Now that the parish council members gave themselves more money for their travel meals maybe their brains will start to work and they will bring something to the table that will help the parish. Their breakfast allowance went from $10 to $12 per day, lunch from $14 to $18 per day, and dinner from $16 to $25 per day. A total increase from $40 per day to $55. A $15 per day increase for each member.

They also voted to allow themselves the use of the parish automobile to drive to conventions or meetings. This includes any family member that might be traveling with them. We may have to buy 14 cars because I know if I was a councilman I might ask why should I use my automobile if I can use the parish automobile. Why put the wear and tear along with the mileage on my own automobile? So this means they now can take a short vacation totally at the expense of the taxpayers. In the past we know a council member who used the parish automobile to attend a weekend meeting in Alexandria and also took a trip to Paragon Casino while using this parish automobile.

Now with the parish paying more for meals, furnishing them the automobile, paying for hotel rooms in which family members may travel along with them, do we think all they go for is to attend meetings? I think not, a paid short vacation paid by the taxpayer.

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After attending meetings regularly for five years I have yet to see a council member come out and say they learned anything from another state or meeting that would improve or could be implemented in our parish. Not even when all 14 members went on the trip to Hawaii along with family members.

Richard Boutte

Jeanerette