[StBernard] Council to Meet Tuesday, New Phone Numbers For Parish Gov't, SBA Applications, and More...

[Westley Annis]

Council to Meet Tuesday, New Phone Numbers For Parish Gov't, SBA
Applications, and More...

October 30, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro

St. Bernard Parish Council to meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers;
New phone numbers listed for Parish Government; Small Business
Administration accepting applications at Disaster Recovery Center; and
residents cautioned not to block water hydrants with debris from gutted
structures.

The St. Bernard Parish Council will hold its regular monthly meeting at 11
a.m. Tuesday in the Council Chambers. The public is invited.

Individuals and items on the agenda include:

- The President's Report by Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez.
- Recognize the public. Those wishing to speak must sign up prior to the
meeting. Speakers will be given five minutes.
- Albert Stroink, plant manager, Chalmette Refining.
- Doris Voitier, superintendent of public schools.
- Father Maestri, Archdiocese of New Orleans.
- Larry Graham, Chalmette Medical Center.
- Steve Sawyer, Cox Communications.
- Center for Disease Control report on environmental conditions.

Resolutions:
- Adopt Resolution SBPG K17-11-05 authorizing the Parish Council during the
state of emergency declared due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to assume the
duties of the Planning Commission.
- Adopt Resolution K18-11-05 appointing a primary contractor for long-term
planning in the re-building of St. Bernard Parish.

Public Hearing:
Summary K1, introduced by Council member at-large Joseph DiFatta Jr., which
is an ordinance providing for the sale of not exceeding $25 million of
revenue anticipation notes, Series 2005, of the Parish of St. Bernard, State
of Louisiana.

Summary K2, introduced by Council member Craig Taffaro Jr., which is an
ordinance requiring that re-built homes be built to at least pre-storm
standards and retain the neighborhood integrity.
Summary K3, introduced by Council member Craig Taffaro Jr., which is an
ordinance to authorize a moratorium on the re-establishment and development
of any multi-family dwelling in St. Bernard, throughout the disaster
recovery period.

Introduction of ordinances:
Summary K4, introduced by Council member at-large Joseph DiFatta Jr., which
is an ordinance establishing the Parish Housing Authority as authorized by
the state legislature.

Summary K5, introduced by Council member at-large Joseph DiFatta Jr., which
is an emergency ordinance authorizing the parish to enter private property
to, in the interest of public health and safety, alter or demolish
structures and remove debris found there.

Also, a motion to recognize St. Bernard Parish firefighters, sheriff's
deputies and parish government essential personnel as "heroes'' of St.
Bernard and advertise for the design and building of a Hurricane Katrina
Monument.

Also, a motion o engage Milling, Benson, Woodward, LLP, Attorneys at Law, as
legal advisers for environmental issues relative to the recovery from
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and environmental issues relative to the Murphy
Oil spill.

Also, a motion to discuss the use of implementing a St. Bernard security
force for the security of public buildings during the repair an rebuilding
process.

Also, a motion to discuss the use of VoiceOverIp communications services for
St. Bernard Parish.

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Two new telephone numbers have been established for reaching St. Bernard
Parish government services representatives. The numbers are 1-303-459-6685
and 1-303-459-6692.

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About 3,300 applications have been received in St. Bernard Parish for loans
from the U.S. Small Business Administration, with some 500 declined because
of credit issues, a SBA official told parish officials on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Joe Foglia, a lead customer service representative for the SBA, said
homeowners and business owners, as well as renters, can apply for low
interest loans at the Disaster Recovery Center at the Super Wal-Mart parking
lot in Chalmette.

For more information, call the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service
Center at 1-800-659-2955.

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Also, residents gutting homes and businesses in St. Bernard Parish are being
cautioned not to block or otherwise obscure water hydrants with debris they
haul out because of the danger the hydrants can be damaged by heavy
equipment operators trying to pick up debris, parish officials said. Also,
hey said firefighters might not be able to find hydrants during a fire.

At least a dozen water hydrants have been damaged by debris removal
contractors because the heavy equipment operators couldn't see them because
of debris blocking them, officials said.

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