Chataignier village administrator told he still has job

Tension broke out during Monday’s meeting of the Chataignier Village Council on whether or not Village Administrator Gail McDavid was fired.
The issue arose when McDavid’s report was not on the agenda. Councilman J.B. Brasseaux wanted to “add something to the agenda to discuss why the village administrator is not on the agenda and this so called firing business.”
Mayor Jackie Malveaux Thomas replied McDavid was not on the agenda because “he didn’t turn in a report.”
“Well, I heard he’s been so called fired,” said Councilman Brasseaux.
The mayor then stated she is the “only one who can add something to the agenda.”
Upon request from Councilman Brasseaux, Village Attorney Greg Vidrine advised a motion to add an item to the agenda “can be made as long as it is unanimous.” He added, “That’s the rule.”
Defending her position, Mayor Thomas said, “That’s not what I was actually told, but we can go by whatever. That will be fine. Y’all can have it y’alls way and put him on the agenda.”
The motion to add the report from the village administrator to the agenda was made by Councilman Joseph Simien and seconded by Councilman Brasseaux.
Mayor Thomas, at that point wanted to move on to the chief’s report, but Vidrine interjected and said, “For this one, you’ll need to take a vote of everyone to be certain that it is unanimous.”
Calling for a vote was Councilman Brasseaux. He, along with Councilman Simien, voted to add the item to the agenda. Not voting was Councilwoman Debra Fontenot.
“Then it cannot be added,” said Vidrine after the vote.
After Chief Clint Brasseaux gave his report, Mayor Thomas called for any public comments. “The only public comment I’d like to make, first of all, is you came to my house on November 8 after the election and said you didn’t need a village administrator anymore,” McDavid said to the mayor. “Then, you just told (the council) I wasn’t on the agenda because I didn’t turn in a report. I never turn in a report anyway... That’s different stories you are telling here.”
Interrupting McDavid was the mayor who commented, “I’m not telling different stories.”
McDavid went on to say, “The reason they were wanting to add me to the agenda was to discuss the reason you are taking revenge on an employee because you lost the election.”
He continued, “You asked for the keys, and I have those. So, that being the case, I have a question as to how the mayor can terminate a head of a department without council approval.”
McDavid also insinuated one member of the council did not “wish to have a village administrator.”
Knowing McDavid was referring to her, Councilwoman Fontenot replied, “I didn’t approve of this from the (beginning).” She brought up neither Ville Platte, Eunice, or any other place has such a position.
“I felt from the very beginning if you run for this position (on the council), then you need to learn how to do your job and not hire someone else to do it for you and hold a title,” said Councilwoman Fontenot. “That’s how I felt about it from the very jump, and I still feel the same way today.”
Bringing up his point again was McDavid who stated, “I didn’t believe the mayor had the power to fire any department head without the approval of the council since the council approved this position and approved to hire me to begin with.”
Clarifying her original position Mayor Thomas told McDavid, “I went to fire you not because of I’m losing the election. It was because of your disloyalty to me and not because you didn’t vote for me. It’s because you didn’t take pride in the position I think the way you should have.”
“I was advised to terminate the position that was no longer needed,” she continued. “I did get with the attorney, and he advised me I couldn’t fire you. You didn’t turn in a report, so I didn’t go back to tell you I can’t fire you.”
To which McDavid said, “The only question that remains is am I the village administrator or am I terminated.”
The mayor replied, “I said you’re not terminated because of the advice that I got from the attorney.”
Tensions flared up further at the meeting between Mayor Thomas and Councilman Simien after he told McDavid, “Four years ago, when the mayor came up with this village administrator, the council did make a motion. And, it was seconded by the council.”
“I know Debra didn’t vote on it,” he continued. “It was only me and (Councilman) J.B. Then, we made a motion to hire you after (the mayor) recommended you to fill that position. We made a motion on that too and seconded it, so you’re still village administrator.”
The exchange between Councilman Simien and Mayor Thomas continued and reached its climax when the councilman suggested, “As village administrator, I would not have turned in a report either if you came to my house and tell me I’m fired.”
To that, the mayor retorted, “Well, it doesn’t matter because you finally came to a meeting, so what’s the difference? Why you want to talk now and get involved?”
She later added, “Because you don’t come to the meetings and you never come.”
“Wow,” replied Councilman Simien as he clapped his hands. “I clap for you.”
Things settled down when the mayor wished to move on and apologized to McDavid. “If you want to make a report next month,” she said, “then we’ll put you on the agenda. If you want to continue what you were doing before, you are still hired by the village and you are still the village administrator, and I’m sorry I went to fire you. Now it’s over with, and now y’all can move on.”
A day after the meeting, Mayor-elect Darbonne confirmed McDavid will continue to serve as village administrator once he becomes mayor. “He is the heart of Chataignier,” said Mayor-elect Darbonne.
After the mayor’s apology, the meeting then proceeded to regular business listed on the agenda with the naming of the recreational park after former mayor and father of the current mayor Herman Malveaux. According to the mayor, the park would be named, Legacy Memorial Park In Memory of Mayor Herman Malveaux.
The motion to name the park was made by Councilwoman Fontenot and was not seconded.
Mayor-elect Justin Darbonne asked, “Isn’t there a street named after Mr. Malveaux already?”
He questioned the matter because he is under the assumption a municipality cannot have a street and a park with the same name.
Councilman Simien answered Darbonne’s question and said there is indeed a street in the village named after the former mayor.
“So, y’all are going to deny the park being named after my dad,” questioned the mayor.
“From what I understand when I got in here, there’s a street behind the post office named after your dad,” said Councilman Simien.
To that replied the mayor, “Well, I didn’t even know that was a requirement. I didn’t even know that was a street. I thought it was a driveway. I’ve never seen a sign.”
The matter of naming the park was tabled until the issue can be confirmed. Village Clerk Stephanie Smith, in the mean time, will order street signs for the street in question.
In other business during Monday’s meeting, the council heard from Village Engineer Ronald Landreneau about the need to amend resolutions regarding LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grant) funding. Upon Landreneau’s explanation, the council voted to adopt both amending resolutions along with a resolution to apply for a grant from the Community Water Enrichment Fund.