Regional planning organization moves on with interim director

While the abrupt resignation of Capital Region Planning Commission Executive Director Huey Dugas was a surprise, says Mayor Kip Holden, the officials who oversee the CRPC have long been concerned about his leadership. “We want our [metropolitan planning organization] to be one of the best in the nation,” Holden says. “In order to achieve that, we needed to seek a new direction.” The CRPC serves an 11-parish region, while the MPO, operated by the same staff, primarily serves the core urban areas of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension and Livingston parishes; Holden is part of the executive committee that oversees the agency. Holden would not comment on any discussions committee members have had about the internal management of the office. But he says “there was some question of confidence” in Dugas, and says the local MPO has not been as successful as its New Orleans neighbor at drawing federal funds for transportation projects. The executive committee met today, accepted Dugas’ resignation, appointed R.J. Goebel—director of planning under Dugas—temporary head of the agency, and began the process of finding a new executive director. Dugas and Goebel did not attend. Today’s actions are not official until ratified by the full CRPC board, which meets Monday. When asked if Dugas did a good job as executive director of the CRPC, Holden responds: “You saw the action that we recommended. Res ipsa loquitur: The thing speaks for itself.” For more about what led up to today’s action, read a recent Business Report story here. —David Jacobs