Local voters will get the chance later this year to sign off on or reject a new structuring of the city-parish Department of Public Works, following the Metro Council’s unanimous vote Wednesday to place the restructuring proposal on the December ballot.
Councilwoman Chauna Banks-Daniel was initially hesitant to pass the issue on to voters. She said she didn’t receive critical paperwork on the topic until the last minute. But Chief Administrative Officer William Daniel told the council last night was the only opportunity to approve the item before the Oct. 22 deadline to get the measure on the ballot. Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis also protested.
“I hate it when they bring stuff to us and we have questions or concerns and they tell us we have to do it today or it can’t get on the ballot,” Collins-Lewis said. “It’s important that we understand this reorganization as a council and how it’s happening when we walk out this door and have to explain it.”
Instead of one large department, six new departments will cover specific tasks: maintenance, transportation, building and grounds, development, fleet management, and environmental services. The mayor would be able to add another assistant chief administrative officer. Daniel said the switch can occur with DPW’s current budget. The State Bond Commission will also have to approve the change at its meeting at the State Capitol on Oct. 16.
Also Wednesday, the council approved an agreement with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation for the operation of a parking garage at Third and Convention streets. Though the council could have taken up a last minute item to establish a committee to vet applications to fill the vacant parish attorney position, they instead introduced the item for consideration in two weeks.
Also, as expected, the council deferred discussion on equipping Baton Rouge police officers with body cameras, and also deferred approval of changes to contracts the city-parish has with three bus bench providers.
