Hill resigns post Monday, reinstated on Wednesday

Liz Hill resigned as director of the Evangeline Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness on Monday, but by Wednesday afternoon she had been reinstated.
Hill gave her resignation at the end of a tense and volatile special meeting by the Evangeline Parish Police Jury on Monday evening. After approving a few minor items, Police Jury Secretary-Treasurer Donald Bergeron addressed the jury about an issue with a $250,000 grant paying for a new generator at the Evangeline Parish 9-1-1/OEP’s new facility at the Industrial Park.
Bergeron stated he had “concerns” about the grant, which was applied for by Hill, when he was notified by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (GOSEP) that the grant had been approved. The main sticking point for Bergeron was that Hill would be the point of contact for the grant. After talking to the Jury’s Counsel, Assistant District Attorney Marcus Fontenot, Bergeron believed that he should be the point of contact.
“I decided to remain as the point of contact,” Bergeron said.
Bergeron stated that tensions rose between he and Hill after informing her of his decision. Bergeron said that Hill told him that “you will have to do all the paperwork then,” and stated that Sherri Buller echoed Hill’s sentiment in an e-mail.
Bergeron would go on to state that Hill was unprofessional in ensuing phone and e-mail conversations.
“I guess what should have been a minor deal turned into a big deal,” Bergeron said.
Police Juror Bryan Vidrine of District 7 asked Hill who was going to pay the matching portion of the grant, totaling $62,500?, Hill answered that 9-1-1 would be repaying that amount.
Vidrine further stated, “I think it is great that we are getting money for a generator,” but then asked “Is it standard to apply for a grant without us being notified?”
Hill responded by stating that “I had no idea that we would get it. I was shocked. As soon as we found out I did inform Donald of it.”
Hill further stated about informing the jury of the grant beforehand saying, “I didn’t know I had to.”
Police Juror Eric Soileau for District 6 stated that this grant “was no different than the more than one million dollars worth of grants she has gotten in the past” and further stated that “Hill was the point of contact on all of those grants.”
Soileau then asked Hill, “Would you have any problems letting us look at grant applications in the future?”
Hill responded, “I have no problem with that.”
Police Juror Kevin Veillon of District 5 then spoke and expressed his disappointment in both Bergeron and Hill for how this matter had been handled.
Veillon said, “I think it is silly that we are fighting over this. It is really ridiculous. I am disappointed in both of you.”
Hill then addressed the jury and stated that “I take offense to being called unprofessional.”
Hill then retrieved an e-mail she had received from Bergeron last year, read portions of the e-mail and informed the board she felt it was a “threat.”
Hill then said, “I am resigning as OEP Director. I will stay on as 9-1-1 director but I am out as OEP director. You can find someone else. Thank you all for your time.”
Hill then asked the Jury if any of them would stand up and be called unprofessional?
As Hill began to walk out of the Police Jury Room, Soileau asked her to reconsider, which prompted Hill to reply “I’m not reconsidering it.”
After Hill’s departure members of the board, including President Ryan Ardoin, expressed the need to fill Hill’s vacancy immediately. The Jury indicated that they would attempt to do that at next Monday’s monthly meeting.
But then on Wednesday, Ardoin e-mailed members of the jury stating that he was reinstating Hill as director. In the e-mail Ardoin writes, “After processing the OEP situation, thinking it over, working things out with Liz and Donald and through prayer, I am deciding to accept Ms. Hill’s reconsideration. I believe it is my responsibility to work things out and do what’s best for our parish. Liz and her staff have done an abundance of positive work for our parish including securing many beneficial grants that is vital to the safety of our community. I hope you would all understand my position on this. With that being said, I am reinstating Liz Hill as OEP director.”
Hill confirmed the reinstatement to The Gazette by phone on Wednesday.
Other items approved at Monday’s meeting:
• The date of Nov. 8, 2016 for a primary election to fill the Ward 3 Justice of the Peace and Ward 3 Constable Offices.
• Voted Charles F. Perdices (by a vote of 5-3) as interim Constable for Ward 3. Perdices was sworn in by Judge Chuck West after the vote.