The Jefferson Parish Council has opted to postpone a decision on an ordinance that would curtail the Inspector General's public speaking rights. Inspector General Kim Chatelain had been the subject of scrutiny for her transparency with the media regarding parish affairs. She consented to refrain from media contact for five weeks until the next council meeting, an agreement prompted by a request from Chatelain herself, FOX 8 reported.
Councilmember Arita Bohannan, who has been vocal in criticizing Chatelain's media relations, pushed the ordinance arguing the inspector general should be "above politics." "You have an obligation to our taxpayers. They did not hire you to be a media consult," Bohannan stated, as obtained by FOX 8. The vote deferment arrived amidst allegations of an improper alliance between Chatelain and Councilmember Jennifer Van Vrancken, who has opposed several parish deals, noted by WDSU.
Chatelain, in the lead-up to the council's vote, rallied national and local support to maintain her office's authority. According to a report by WWLTV, she secured backing from inspector general offices across the nation. This support counters the council members' proposed revisions that would dramatically restrict her ability to communicate her findings to the media and public.
The proposal aims to stop the Inspector General from making public statements that could hurt an investigation or its potential. This idea came up after Chatelain released a letter criticizing a $10 million publicly funded project, claiming it could waste taxpayer money and not bring much benefit to the parish.
Facing an ethics committee decision to hire outside counsel to examine her actions, Chatelain remains determined to engage in discussions on the proposed changes to her office's operations. "I have no problems disagreeing. I have no problems in reaching a place where we can agree to disagree and I don’t necessarily think that we have to agree on a problem, to design a solution," Chatelain conveyed her stance during the council gathering, as detailed by FOX 8. As the parish edges towards its next meeting, the future of its watchdog's public voice hangs in the balance.
