By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

EDGARD – Abandoned vehicles in St. John Parish will now be allowed a shorter stay, from five days to three days, the Parish Council decided Tuesday.

The ordinance change, which passed unanimously, was designed to give the abandoned automobile law the same strength as state law, which allows authorities to tow vehicles that have been abandoned for three days.

In other business, the Parish Council unanimously agreed to name Council Member Lester Rainey, Jr. the council chair and Council Member Jaclyn Hotard as vice chair. Sean Roussel graciously thanked the council for his time as council chair in 2006, before stepping down for Rainey. Council Members Steve Lee and Dale Wolfe congratulated Rainey and Hotard for the nominations.