LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – Flying in the face of the rest of the St. Charles Parish Council and parish administration, Councilman G. “Ram” Ramchandran of Destrehan went one step too far in opposing the recent sales tax election. That’s according to council chairman Barry Minnich, who said Ramchandran used parish employees to prepare and mail a letter detailing Ramchandran’s views on the April 7 one-cent sales tax election, which lost by 2,930 to 2,619, or 311 votes. The tax was proposed to be dedicated to hurricane protection projects and bailing out the financially-troubled sewer program. By using parish employees to promote his personal viewpoint, Minnich said, Ramchandran went against ethical standards for public officials. He has asked parish attorney Bobby Raymond for a written legal opinion. Minnich said once the parish council votes to place a matter on a ballot, all members should be on the same team to support it. Ramchandran said in response the matter is “inconsequential,” and he would pay back any public expenses involved, including personnel time and postage. Minnich explained, “If you’re advising people of the election, that’s fine. But a position statement? You can’t do that. He should’ve known that was not proper.” Ramchandran pointed out the total expense involved, according to his own calculation, was $18.51. He added he previously checked with the state ethics board, which told him this was permissible unless the amount was more than $200. Additionally, Ramchandran said he checked with Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle’s office, which told him he should reimburse the parish the expense, but that the amount was “nothing significant.” The letter itself, on official parish letterhead, was addressed to every civic association president in St. Charles Parish and urged every reader to oppose the tax. The letter said, in part, “I ask you to say NO for the new tax which is expected to generate $7 million, whereas our shortfall is only $1.5 to $2 million. We can not stifle small businesses, industry and mom-and-pop stores in order to enable everyone else to flush the toilets.” The letter pushed for a gradual sewer-rate increase. Minnich said he agrees with Ramchandran on that point, and added it should have been done in the past. Ramchandran said he was on the team to urge passage of the $41 million sewer system rehabilitation program, stumping across the parish for the proposal. However, he said he pledged he would fight any wasteful spending. “We have to have the people have faith in us,” Ramchandran added. Ramchandran and Minnich agreed to question the yard signs which popped up across the parish from the “Committee Against Flooding,” which urged voters to “Vote YES for hurricane protection.” They question who paid for and erected the signs, with some reports parish employees were involved. This incident is one of the latest in the public feud between the two council members. At Monday’s council meeting, Minnich was conducting discussion on a proposed resolution and seemingly snubbed Ramchandran’s raised hand. Later, while Ramchandran was discussing the proposal and needed more time to make more comments, the council voted to grant him more time to speak. “Ahh, it’s approved,” Minnich sighed aloud, bringing laughter from the audience and an angry glare from Ramchandran.