Walter Pierce

Stunner: committee votes to advance deconsolidation ordinance

by Walter Pierce

Less than a half hour ago, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s charter committee voted unanimously to advance an ordinance to the City-Parish Council that - if approved by the council - would place before voters parishwide on the Nov. 2, 2010, ballot a proposition to scrap Lafayette’s consolidated form of government and return to a city government and parish government. It was a stunning turn to a meeting that began with mundane topics such as amending the City-Parish Charter to allow for more time for reapportionment and changing City-Parish President Joey Durel’s title to Mayor-President.

The consolidation abolition ordinance is expected to go before the council on Wednesday, Feb. 17 (the council meets a day late due to Mardi Gras), and would be voted on for final adoption March 9.

Check back with the INDsider later Monday for the full story.