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BRANDY FLEMING

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY NEWS

On December 3rd, 2024 the Bogalusa City Council held their weekly meeting to discuss various ordinances and an amendment to the agenda, which was also live streamed to the City of Bogalusa Youtube channel.

At the beginning of the meeting councilman Irvine announced an adoption of an ordinance authorizing the city attorney to retain Amanda Lacey to provide legal services in the area of civil services, union negotiations and employment matters to address the ongoing and anticipated issues. She will be replacing the current city attorney. The ordinance for this motion passed by unanimous vote from council members.

The next ordinance was to provide the planning and zoning request for a special use permit for Just Us Home Away From Home at 824 East 7th Street to use as a residential home in Avon residential to operate as a daycare center. This organization was established by Rhonda Arendey. This ordinance was on the agenda due to the fact that primarily it is a special use permit and planning and zoning deemed it to be passed on to the council. She provides toddler services from 1 to 5 years, special needs services and several programs to the community. The motion for this ordinance passed by unanimous vote from the council.

There was a motion involving the approval in adopting the operating and capital budget for the 2025 fiscal year. This motion was not passed in a unanimous vote by council members. Their decision was based on the fact that the budget was publicly advertised and introduced after the most recent November 26th, 2024 finance meeting. The council then attempted to have a public hearing, but no one showed up except for the police officers. Regarding the failure of the  motion to pass, councilman Irvine stated, “we are within charter compliance on the budget.” He said regarding previously approved ordinance 2820 that the council did not receive requested information which included income, balance sheets, credit card or any other statements for 2024. Councilman Irvine said there had been a public records request which was vetoed by Mayor Truong.

For the next topic of discussion Councilman Irvine requested an amendment to the agenda and made a resolution to request a fiscal manager from the State of Louisiana Legislative Auditors. Mayor Truong stated to the council “you all want to talk about no transparency. When were you going to say that you had a problem? My office has reached out multiple times. You all are ridiculous to sit up here and not have one single question about the budget. Pass the budget.” Councilman Irvine responded to a public comment and stated the mayor “didn’t come to any of the budget hearings. Bottom line is they did not come and bring the monthly financials and explain how much

money was going out of here and now we find out we’re 3.4 million dollars in the hole.” The council did not vote unanimously for the amendment and it failed.

Councilman Irvine then spoke to Mayor Truong and stated “we the council want to see every single credit card statement. We want to see all income, balance sheets, every single thing that we asked for in ordinance 2820. We have until June 30th, 2025 to pass the operating budget. You’ve got to prove to us that you’re not in a deficit.” Truong responded by stating “I’ve already proven it first off, but what we would like to see is for you all to properly bring your concerns.

Put it in writing so we can be transparent and open with the public. We don’t have a deficit. I am not the Perrette Administration.”

Next there was public participation and in response to a comment from the public councilman Irvine stated, “Wendy O’Quinn-Perrette provided every single monthly statement. When I asked her something she hopped to it and we’d solve it.”

Towards the end of the meeting Michael Matthews, the local 687 Union President, approached the podium and said he was there to deliver a letter to the administration, which stated that on behalf of the Bogalusa Professional Firefighters Association, Bogalusa 687 and the Union Grievance Committee pursuant to article 15 of the collective bargaining agreement between City of Bogalusa and local 687 the Union Grievance Committee has followed all procedures in handling the November 11th 2024 agreements, which was filed through the City of Bogalusa later and ended on November 14th, 2024. Pursuant to step 3 of the grievance procedures we respectfully request a meeting with the mayor and whoever he deems to meet with us, which shall be held at the earliest practical date and present the grievance before the mayor. He then told Mayor Truong they were asking for an official meeting in which Truong responded that they looked forward to it and they will reach out to their attorneys as soon as they receive the grievance.

Former mayor Wendy O’Quinn-Perrette approached the podium next and told the council she had the general funds statement from Eisner Ampler, which is the largest CPA firm in Louisiana, that shows there was a surplus of 1.7 millions dollars. She stated, “there is not a deficit. A deficit means you have no money and I left 1.7 million dollars. The mayor has been lying to us and that is the only reason why I’m here. I’ve accepted the former administration and taken many kicks for it, but this one I will not because he’s a liar on that.” She told the council she wouldn’t pass the budget either because they have to acquire a funds balance and she applauded the council for taking that stance. She stated she plans to be back at every meeting as long as the discrepancy persists. O’Quinn-Perrette stated, “I am going to call a liar a liar.”

At the end of the meeting Mayor Truong said there is a 786,450 dollar deficit. He also claimed that the O’Quinn-Perrette Administration left at least 1.5 million dollars in past due bills. In addition, regarding the budget, Truong said his administration had been trying to get the job done and they got a timely and balanced budget and “still face the games and the clown shows.” In closing, he said he welcomes any input.