Recent actions by the St. John the Baptist Parish Council portray a public body in possible dysfunction, an expressed desire by some members to meet away from the public eye twice a month, a self-proclamation by councilman Lennix Madere that he is “president” of District 3 and a burgeoning distrust between the Council and Parish President Natalie Robottom.

Taken individually, there would likely be little more than passing concern. Unfortunately, Madere’s presidential proclamation comes off to some as campaigning from the podium or grandstanding, whether intended or not.

Collectively, the picture is bleak, a concern that should alarm parish residents. Arguably, most disturbing is an apparent yearning by some Council members to conduct a meeting one week before the regular scheduled meeting ostensibly to set the agenda.

On face value, perhaps the idea is noble although already skating on melting legal ice. But when the caveat that the meetings would be an opportunity to discuss the items, the ice broke through and certainly became a potential public relations boondoggle.

Weighing only the legal considerations, it is imperative to point out the state’s sunshine laws mandate a notice be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting. Along with that notice is a requirement the agenda for such a meeting be posted at that time.

The legal Catch-22 arises when trying to determine how a public body is able to post an agenda when the purpose is to set the agenda.

Granted, the meeting is open to the public but is also held at 2:30 p.m., a time when most residents are at work and held in a small conference room.

Of much more concern, why would Council members consider discussing issues at that time and not in front of their constituents?

Credit Council Member Jaclyn Hotard for pointing out to her colleagues the flaws in the proposal, which failed but could be raised again.

The Council’s seeming mistrust of Robottom is old news, a scenario that has been playing out bi-monthly for the past several years. The latest tipping point evolved this past summer when Council members decided to override Robottom’s recommendation in the hiring of an engineering firm for a waste water project.

Council members, who have yet to satisfactorily explain their reasoning to constituents, elected to hire a firm that was rated two spots below the Administration’s recommendation.

Unfortunately, not only does the increasing frequency of these types of adversarial exchanges handcuff parish leaders in the legislative and executive branches but also result in lengthy meetings and not necessarily a preponderance of productivity. For the parish to move forward and grow, these type of antics must cease and a cooperative spirit must be employed.

Elected officials serve at the will of the people. It’s time all of those officials adhere to that mandate and focus on the people they were elected to serve.