Council calls for investigation into Parish President’s hiring practices

Published 9:17 pm Tuesday, June 9, 2015

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish Council has called for an investigation after District Attorney and Attorney General opinions regarding multiple requests for decisions were rendered at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Perilloux read the opinions into record, saying violations to both state law and the parish charter have been committed by Parish President Natalie Robottom and her administration in regards to temporary employees hired to permanent positions and her hiring department heads that were not Council-confirmed.

The opinion said Robottom’s administration has provided retirement and vacation pay to temporary employees who are not legally eligible for such benefits.

“There is also significant concern as to whether the parish administration is following the proper civil service rules,” Perilloux read, which “potentially amounts to malfeasance.”

Robottom was not present at the meeting, but said in a prepared statement she has been out of the office for over a week due to a recent injury.

“I have not had the opportunity to review the opinion in its entirety,” she said. “I look forward to giving the opinion the time and attention it deserves.”