Abbeville City Council votes 3-2 to terminate grass contract

The City of Abbeville utilizes contractors to cut grass on along state highways.
Those agreements can be voided if the contractor does not fulfil expectations.
Saying standards have not been met in his district, Councilman Francis Touchet, District C, motioned to terminate the contract of Myra Allen during Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
The council voted 3-2 in favor of ending the agreement with Allen. Councilman Louis Joe Hardy, District A, Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance and Touchet voted in for the measure. Councilman Brady Broussard, District C, and Councilman Wayne Landry, District D, voted against.
“We have an agreement and there are still some things that are not up to par with this contractor,” Touchet said. “I cannot speak about anything in my district, because I worry about my district and my district only.”
Allen’s contract includes parts of Charity Street and John Hardy Drive in Touchet’s district.
“After observing the contractor performing his or her duties,” Touchet said, “I went back right after and saw debris that was still there and a cutting that was not to my satisfaction.”
Touchet made the motion to terminate the contract. Hardy offered a second. The contract will end 60 days after receiving written notice.
Plaisance pointed out that the issues with contractor have been brought up multiple times while speaking to Public Works Director Clay Menard during the meeting.
“I called you and you mentioned to me that you have discussed these same issues repeatedly with them,” Plaisance said.
Menard said that is correct.
“Apparently those issues were not being corrected,” Plaisance followed up. “I have noticed that is seems they don’t correct the problems.”
Menard said on some occasions the issues are rectified, other times that has not been the case.
“This goes back a year,” Touchet said of one of his biggest issues. “The curbing on Charity is horrendous.”
Contractors are required to cut and clean every street on their contract twice a month. Allen’s contract includes parts of each Charity Street, Park Avenue, John Hardy, North State and South State Streets.
Touchet stressed that his biggest concern is that he wants to see the best return because of how the contractors are paid.
“We are paying for a service with tax payer dollars,” Touchet said. “We are paying tax payer dollars to certain individuals and we are not getting the return on those tax payer dollars.”
Neither Allen nor a representative was present during the meeting. Both Landry and Broussard argued that the contractor should be present in the event on a possible termination of the contract.
“I truly believe if they are not here,” Landry said, “it is not fair to them, regardless of the situation.
“I think if there is a problem that needs to be rectified, you should meet with person.”
Touchet said those meetings have occurred.
“The mayor has had meetings with them,” Touchet said.
Landry made a substitute to Touchet’s motion to allow a 90-day trail period for the Allen’s before making a final decision.
“If we give them a 90-day trial period,” Landry said, “maybe something would change.”
Broussard seconded the substitute motion.
“During that time I am hoping that Mr. and Mrs. Allen could meet with the mayor and Clay (Menard),” Broussard said, “to understand the severity of the council’s intention to have them live up to the expectations of that contract.”
The substitute motion failed 3-2, with Touchet, Plaisance and Hardy voting against.
“I think we need to make sure that we are getting the best effort for the tax payer dollars that we are having to expend out,” Touchet said.