LAPLACE — A special St. John the Baptist Parish Council meeting taking place today will not include the parish president, who said the meeting was called with no prior contact and less than two days after no action took place at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Parish Council meeting.

The meeting has been called for 2:30 p.m. today at Council Chambers, located at 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace.

“I am out of town and will not be at this hastily scheduled meeting,” Parish President Natalie Robottom said. “There was no prior contact with me or my staff before scheduling the meeting and no questions or alternate recommendations for the appointment were put forward by any Council member. The first agenda item was on the last two Council meeting agendas and both times the Council tabled the item with no discussion.”

All agenda items today correlate to Thursday’s announcement from Robottom, who named Blake Fogleman as a special assistant to the parish president.

Robottom said the assignment was to help Fogleman transition to director of utilities.

Parish Council Chairman Michael Wright placed an item on today’s agenda, which would introduce a resolution enforcing an immediate hiring freeze.

When asked Thursday to comment on the reason for today’s special-called meeting and motivation for the proposed resolution, Wright said he would not comment because of possible litigation.

Robottom said the Council’s lack of action in Tuesday’s public meeting was unfortunate.

“I cannot stand by while they jeopardize the health and safety of our residents,” she said. “Over the last several weeks, numerous emails were sent with my recommendation along with offers to meet, discuss or ask questions regarding the appointment. There was no response. Copies of resumes for all four candidates interviewed were also sent to Council members with no response, and my appointee reached out to Council members with little success.

“I’m not sure of their plan or purpose as no discussions have occurred in view of the public, nor have they attempted to discuss their concerns.”

The Parish Council chose not to address the utilities director position Tuesday during its regularly scheduled meeting after tabling a request from Robottom earlier this month to name Fogleman director of utilities.

On Thursday, Robottom named Fogleman special assistant, an appointment that does not require Council approval.

Due to the nature of the position and its impact on the health and welfare of parish residents, Robottom said, the move was made to allow for a four-week transition period between Fogleman and outgoing director Virgil Rayneri.

Fogleman’s appointment goes into effect Monday. Rayneri is retiring at the end of February.

Robottom said Fogleman is a professional engineer with experience in public and private sectors.

“He has a wide variety of experience with potable water treatment and supply projects, sewer collection and treatment projects, and wetland impact and drainage studies,” a release from the parish stated.

Fogleman is currently employed with an engineering firm in LaPlace and works closely with St. John Parish on ongoing projects. He also works closely with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality on project funding and approval and regulatory matters.

“Fogleman is proficient in site permitting, including permits for environmental impact/clearing, wetland permits, subdivision regulations through parish, city or town zoning departments, railroad right-of-way permitting, highway utility permits and joint permits with the Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, levee districts and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development,” the release said.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University.