Mamou Council hears personnel grievance

The Mamou Town Council heard a request from Pride Doran, representing Katina Richard, for a request to discuss recent developments concerning her job with the Mamou Police Department.
Richard, who lost the recent election for chief of police, feels that new chief Robert McGee is not taking her abilities and department experience into account in making personnel decisions, said Doran.
Last month, McGee chose not to appoint an assistant chief of police for his new administration. Richard had been assistant chief under the previous administration.
McGee also closed out the D.A.R.E. program, over which Richard had responsibility, due to concerns that the program had not been doing enough to guarantee renewal.
Doran said that Richard, a veteran of the department for more than 20 years, deserves to have these decisions explained to her, and to have a better understanding of what her role in the department will be from this point forward.
The council and mayor listened to Doran’s presentation, but they did not make any comments.
In other business, the council approved two new ordinances increasing certain permit fees. The first ordinance established a new, increaded sliding scale for building permits. The second ordinance increases the fee for hauling oversized loads through the town. It also requires that a proposed route be provided at the time of the application.
According to City Attorney Peter Savoy, these new fee schedules are more in line with the fees being charged with nearby municipalities. In particular, Ville Platte’s fee schedules were chosen as a template.