By Richard Rainey
The Times-Picayune
JEFFERSON, La. — With two investigations still under way, the Jefferson Parish Council scrapped plans Wednesday to create a charitable fund for East Jefferson firefighters.
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Bert Smith said the council and Parish President Aaron Broussard’s administration were acting on concerns voiced by the state legislative auditor about the fund, intended to benefit needy employees of the East Bank Consolidated Fire Department. It was unclear whether the account as designed would meet state regulations for the management of public money, Smith said, adding that once discrepancies are ironed out, the administration will make the cash available to qualifying firefighters.
At stake is about $57,800 that firefighters have collected in the past seven years by selling tiny bells at fire stations for $3 apiece. Upon learning that some of the money was stashed in a private account at a credit union and the rest in a tackle box, the administration proposed setting up a public fund that would be managed by a board of commissioners, including two members of the firefighters union, a representative from the council, a parish attorney and interim Fire Chief Paul Smith.
Assistant Legislative Auditor Dan Daigle began investigating the handling of the money after the Metropolitan Crime Commission fielded several complaints from firefighters or their families who tried to access the cash. Daigle could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Broussard’s administration launched its own investigation.
The legislative auditor’s office has acknowledged that several similar investigations are taking place in other jurisdictions, including St. Tammany and Orleans parishes. After a legislative auditor’s report was published last week, St. Tammany officials chose to end the practice of selling the bells.
Copyright 2009 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company