Public meetings held by phone, video-conference

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Parish Council holds historic meeting, told virus rules hit revenue
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The St. Landry Parish Council held what is probably its first meeting conducted with most members participating over the phone due to social distancing required to combat the coronavirus COVID-19.
Two week ago the Council met and did not have quorum to conduct its business.
With four members present Wednesday and others on a telephone conference line, the Council was able to conduct its business.
The Parish Council’s Administrative-Finance Committee was told it would need to renew its line of credit this year from finance officer Amanda Cain, who spoke by phone at the meeting.
Cain did not provide the committee a number, but did report she projects a $400,000 loss in the general fund and $300,000 in the road and bridge funds. Those projections were for two months, she said.
The cause for the downward projection are casino and video poker revenues are at a standstill as those gambling operations are closed in response to the coronavirus.
Cain said revenue losses are also expected in severance taxes, Yambilee rental and transfers from court costs.
Cain said she would like to get one month of actual revenue and return with a two- and five-month budget projection.
On Wednesday, the Council held a special meeting, its Public Works and Administrative-Finance committee meetings — all with most members attending by phone. Attending in person were Chairman Coby Clavier, Wayne Ardoin, Nancy Carriere, Gil Savoy and Jimmie Edwards. Other members, with the exception of Vivian Olivier, participate by telephone.
Derek LeGendre, information technology director for parish government, prepped the Council members with tips such as asking them to speak as slow as possible, articulate as much as possible and mute their phones when not talking.
At end of about an hour and half of meetings, Council member Harold Taylor said, “I want to congratulate everybody tonight” about having a parish government meeting using telecommunications.
“And I predict it will probably be ongoing until this crisis is over,” he said.
With a few minor tweaks the meeting by telephone will work, he said.
After the meeting, LeGendre said the phone system could accommodate to 1,000 participants.