Eunice City Attorney Vernon McManus announced his resignation at Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.
“I’ve been honored to have served Mayor Moody and Mayor Fontenot, past council members and you present council members as your city attorney, but it is with sincere mixed emotions that I am submitting my resignation as Eunice city attorney effective the end of this month,” he said at the end of the meeting.
The Board accepted Mayor Scott Fontenot’s recommendation to appoint Stan Feucht as the next city attorney. Feucht has been serving as unpaid assistant attorney since 2015.
McManus, 82, noted he is continuing his private practice.
“In 2011, Mayor Claud “Rusty” Moody recommended my appointment as the attorney for the city of Eunice. Now, according to my doctor, I am in good health and I’m still actively working in my private practice, but I think it would be unfair to the mayor and to you council members if you were left without a city attorney should something unexpectedly prevent me from competently serving as your city attorney,” he said.
McManus said he suggested to the mayor late last year that a search be made for his replacement.
Fontenot said, “Mr. Vernon I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for the city. You’ve done it with integrity and honesty and we’ve become friends and I’ll cherish that forever. Yes, he is in good health. You can see him at the golf course half of the week. I mean this guy can outplay anybody,.”
Marion “Nootsie” Sattler, mayor pro-tem, also noted McManus served with integrity as city attorney. But he also said McManus served with a “warm heart” and wanted to help people.
Feucht said he will serve with an open heart, diligence and compassion.
“I want to thank Mr. Vernon for being a great mentor,” he said.
McManus succeeded Jacque Pucheu as city attorney.
McManus said he started legal work with city in 1996 handling condemnation cases.
Other business by the Board included:
— Did not act on a proposal to change firework hours and days;
— Postponed hearings condemnation hearings to March for properties at 240 N. East St. and 230 S. Mallet St.;
— Passed a resolution to request the state Department of Transportation and Development to lower the speed limit on west end of Maple Avenue from 45 mph to 35 mph.; and
— Asked that bids be sought for the replacement or repair of electronic doors in the city jail.
