The nine-member panel has until April 20 to make a recommendation on future governance in Lafayette Parish. Talk of requesting a postponement of its deadline emerged Monday evening at the meeting of the Lafayette Charter Commission. The nine-member panel comprising five city residents and four parish residents has until April 20 to make a recommendation on future governance in Lafayette Parish - be it the creation of a separate council and mayor for the city of Lafayette, which has dominated the discussion for the last few months, or more modest tweaks to the current home rule charter. Whatever the commission recommends will go directly to voters in a parishwide referendum.
According to a report Monday night on KATC, commission Vice-chairman Bruce Conque initiated the discussion of seeking extra time, which would be subject to approval of the City-Parish Council. The most additional time the commission could be granted, according to state law, is nine months.
"We've got a lot on our plate," chairman George Lewis told the TV station. "We really want to explore all the possibilities."
The commission may decide at next week's meeting whether to seek that additional time.
See KATC's video report here.