Normally I will not steal other bloggers story’s but in this case, the more that know about it the better.
All of the credit go’s to Greg Aymond of Central La. Politics..
He made the request for the records and I understand, had to pay for them..
I tip my top hat to this gentleman for his diligence!
Some of the meals cost need explaining.
Look at the hot dog and hamburger bill of June 18, 2009.
Link to receipts obtained from city by Greg. (below)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=14283528
Something smells, I dont think its rotten food. Or is it?
Follow the story in-depth on link to Central La. Politics on the right of my column.
Gotta give him thumb’s up on this one!
Alex
P.S.
Mr. Mayor…
Greg broke the food gate story…NOT KALB TV.
3 responses so far ↓
Jim // November 3, 2009 at 2:23 pm |
So how do you get invited to lunch down there, sounds like good eats!
Bird // November 6, 2009 at 6:56 am |
June 18th was not a council meeting date. Makes me wonder, given the menu, if this was not some sort of supported function for youth.
I have several issues with some of the invoices. LMA for example, why is the council paying this bill? Did the council not set aside funds, at the request of the administration for LMA? Why was additional food needed? Were these special events the host city was responsible for?
The weed & seed meeting – why is the council paying for this? The city is the fiscal agent on the grant so why wasn’t money put into the budget for food when the meetings are held?
I saw an invoice to Lisa Harris for two different types of community meetings. What were these and again, why is the council paying this? Why is this not a regular budget item?
I know the city agrees to feed the Grambling State band as part of the agreement for them to perform in the mardi gras parade. Since there is a CEA and funds are allocated for mardi gras by the City to the AMGA, why is this expense not included in that agreement? Again, why is this a council expense?
I am also confused as to why the council was responsible for the reception held after the inauguration. I do know a function was held honoring former mayor Ned Randolph and the food served was similar to the invoice, but I don’t remember the date of the event. It would seem that during any year there is an election, a budgeted item should be made for this expense.
I did not go back and look at the dates of everything marked meeting to see if indeed they were actual dates of council meetings.
My concerns go beyond the public bid issue. I question why the council is paying some of these invoices out of their budget and why these items are not inserted into CEAs and line items where appropriate. I know from past experience bid items cannot be broken up in order to skirt public bid laws.
Like you said Alex, too bad we don’t have any real reporters working for the daily fish wrap as one of my friendly djs used to refer to it. Maybe Steve Coco can get to the bottom of this.
alexcenla // November 7, 2009 at 12:23 am |
As I have stated. Now is the time to begin a concentrated effort to assure these clowns are without a job when they come up for re-election.
Not that anyone will try, but it is my wishfull thinking.