Small town politics in Welsh has seen its share of headlines during the last few months. In the midst of all the attention has often been Alderman Colby Perry, 23.Perry was one of four new aldermen elected to the five seats in last autumn's election.
He is a Welsh native, and has been living in Welsh his entire life.He currently attends McNeese State University of Lake Charles and plans to graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies. He is also a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.
"I might have been the youngest alderman ever elected in Welsh. I am not sure. Donald Brown was elected at a very young age, too, but he was mayor," Perry comments on his age.
Perry explains that when the new council took office, the five of them, plus the mayor ever really got a chance to sit down and talk to each other since the Louisiana Sunshine laws prevents them from meeting more than two at a time. (If three aldermen meet it would be considered a public meeting, which has to be publicly announced at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, author's note).
Perry explains that four of the aldermen went to the LMA (Louisiana Municipal Association) Convention, but that was really the only time they had a chance to interact outside of a public meeting.
Perry continues and explains that "things were thrown at them" very quickly in the beginning.
One of these items was the town's budget".
"For many of us this was our first time in office, and we wanted to set a ground for us to achieve the goals we had planned".
Perry explains that three budget meetings were scheduled.
"The first meeting went well. The second meeting went well, we had a lot of questions in that one. The third went ... off the wall," Perry says.
He continues and explains that no one really is against the police department.
"But a $250,000 increase is quite substantial," Perry says and continues, "to do that and not really look at other items was what made me concerned. I think we should have looked at every line item and find ways how to save money. We could have come up with a really good budget which would have set a good foundation for the future. Right now I am not confident with the budget, and I think we missed an opportunity".
He adds, "If it was up to me I wouldn't focus on just the police department, I would focus on every department to streamline that budget. Because at the end of the day that budget affects our citizens, whether it's the services we provide, or how much I am going to pay for the services we do provide."
During this process, did Perry have any contact with, for example the police chief regarding his concerns?
"We were anticipating in doing that during the budget meetings", Perry replies.
However he adds, "Andrea (King) and I met with the police chief at his office, I think all aldermen did."
He continues to explain that he had hoped to ask questions and address concerns at the third budget meeting.
Things went downhill after the earlier mentioned third budget meeting. His explanation of why there was a conflict at the meeting because Police Chief Crochet had brought several of his police officers to the meeting, plus the Iowa police chief and the financial advisor from that town.
"I don't think the other side was 100 percent at fault; they just didn't take into consideration that they had new aldermen," Perry explains.
When asked which the other side was, Perry explains, "Take the mayor for example: It is almost natural for her to take charge of the budget because she has had the same aldermen for so long. She didn't realize that we wanted to focus on it in debt as we did. So I am not saying that she is at fault ... entirely."
He adds, "Some of the aldermen wanted to focus more, some of the aldermen didn't understand, I just don't think we could have achieved what we wanted in just three budget meetings."
About the third budget meeting Perry says, "A lot of disconnect happened when these outsiders came, and it wasn't just the mayor, aldermen and police chief who sat down. Everything got misconstrued."
Perry says despite the conflict he sees more people attending the city council meetings.
"I see people who have never attended a meeting before. I see optimism, and I see people who want change."
He continues, "I don't think we drastically need to change everything, but we need to elementate some changes."
So what changes does Perry want to see, and where does he want Welsh to be in for example five years?
"I think we need to put more effort into making wise decisions. I don't agree with some of the decisions, but I think we really need to sit down ... we need work meetings so we can sit down and discuss. What happens is we come to the regular scheduled meetings and it becomes a show. It is very hard to polish your deliberations when you don't even have a prior meeting."
He is hopeful that regular meetings would go much smoother if items were discussed at a work meeting prior to the regular meetings.
"I want us to make good, solid decisions for the future. I want us to grow economically. I want us to be seen as an example of small towns. I don't want us to be the status quo."
Are there any challenges for Welsh to reach that goal?
"Right now we are facing communication challenges. I think we can achieve what we want. Bob (Alderman Bob Owens) had a great idea of a five to ten year plan. I think that is a wonderful idea.
So what does Alderman Perry want to see in the plan?
"I'd like us to promote some economic growth. I just want people to be positive about Welsh. I want people to continue to have that enthusiasm, that optimism that I saw when I was first elected. I want people to come to the meetings. I want people to engage. I want people to be excited about Welsh. And ultimately I want the people of Welsh to be united, whether that is your political standpoint, or your race, or whatever."
Is there anything to learn form the recent turmoil?
"I have learned that government is rather slow, and I move pretty quick. I learned that it is important to sit down and communicate, because not everyone will understand your perspective.
Would Perry have done anything different now with the hindsight and experience?
I don't regret anything, but ... well, maybe take it slower. Perhaps acknowledge that there never was an attempt to oppress us. Maybe there was just a lack of communication.
Perry adds, "To be frank, you have a group of new aldermen together with an established mayor, what can you expect. I think it makes us realize some things, actually, on both ends.
What would that be?
"In some ways we probably understand each other, looking back and reflect on what we have done. Maybe understanding a better way to communicate. I think there are things both sides need to work on."
Among the issues Colby Perry has disagreed on, so far, is the town magistrate.
He say he thinks the town can be very innovative in implementing two magistrates that would alternate in court.
"The reason I want to do that is - I have talked about unity and how there is a division - we would have two very experienced attorneys. It wouldn't cost us anything extra and we would have one black female and one white male. I think that is what we need."
He says he has seen distrust in the community regarding law enforcement and also the magistrate. A more diversified magistrate would help in abridging any division.
Perry says he has suggested this change to the mayor.
"She didn't understand the significance of it."
He has also discussed Bernhard McLaughlin, who has agreed to volunteer as a mediator between the town's elected officials. Mc Laughlin will help assist with getting Perry's proposition in writing.
(Bernard McLaughling is a retired colonel and attorney from Lake Charles, who has agreed to volunteer as mediator between the elected officials. McLauglin is also a member of the Welsh Police Reserve.)
When asked if it was in a letter to the mayor where she felt like being accused of being racist, Perry replies,
"Yes that was a part of those letters. I don't think she is racist. In fact the letter never said 'you are racist.' It said she is embracing racism."
Perry was asked to elaborate on this subject.
"Well, considering there were postcards sent out with derogatory language." The postcards Perry is referring to were publicly known last week. Some households in Welsh had received a postcard picturing aldermen Andrea King and Colby Perry where they were called terrorists. The author of the postcards used derogatory terminology, and a racial slur.
So does Perry suspect Welsh Mayor Carolyn Louviere was involved in the postcard?
"No, I don't think it was her, but it was supporting her agenda."
When asked to clarify what Colby Perry means with "her agenda" He answers, "With law enforcement, with recalling us, with removing us, with me and Andrea (King) being seen as antagonists working together (There is a recall effort regarding Colby Perry only. Author's note).
Regarding his latest e-mail Colby Perry reflects, "Perhaps I just was angry and perhaps the e-mail was sent irrationally."
So was the e-mail sent out because of the post cards?
"Yes, I was made aware of the post cards. It was a very busy weekend for me. And again, that goes back to communication. I think the mayor should also have been considerate about where I was coming from."
Have you had any contact with the mayor since the city council meeting on June 6, when Mayor Louviere replied to Colby Perry's accusations?
"No."
Do you communicate with any of the other aldermen?
"Yes, I do with some of them, but not all of them."
Colby Perry again stresses the importance of work meetings. He states that everyone has busy work schedules, which makes it hard to have a regular contact. Perry also says that he doesn't think having work meetings on a monthly basis would be an added cost for the town and the taxpayers.
Accounts for the city hall and the police department have also been discussed by Colby Perry.
The town receives revenue from the so called TED (Traffic Enforce Detail) program, where police officers patrol Interstate 10 during overtime hours. Fines from TED have been a steady income for the town. A few years ago the town set up two accounts for the TED money. Sixty percent of the monies goos to the town's account. The remaining 40 percent went to the police department. The police department's funds would be used for maintenance, and to buy equipment for the police department. The town's 60 percent would be used in the general funds.
Earlier Colby Perry claimed that these two accounts were illegal. However he says he now understands the accounts are legal, although he does not agree with how the police chief handles his budget.
Perry says that according to Louisiana Law a budget has to be amended if expenditures are five percent or more over the budget. It is his opinion that the chief has waited too long to amend his budget when predictions show the police department is over the five percent limit.
He says he is eager to see what the annual audit will reveal regarding the accounts.
At the council meeting on June 6, Colby Perry also discussed the possibility of shopping around for another auditor than the current accounting firm (McElroy, Quirk and Burch of Lake Charles). The town currently pays $12,500 annually for the audit. Perry says it would be good business practice to get bids form other accounting firms, although he does realize that he was too late to propose bids at the meeting in June. However, he thinks the town should ask for bids.
Perry claims that several aldermen over the years have been dissatisfied in regards to the current auditor.
"We need an auditor who will write us up. It is not to get anyone in trouble, but we need to correct our deficiencies," Perry says and continues, "Our audits are almost the same year after year and to be honest, you get that with auditors. They will only look at things that are really brought to the attention."
Perry says that eventually he and the aldermen will get a questionnaire from the auditor and he will provide a check list for them.
The checklist would include, but would not be limited to, the police department's budget practice.
"For instance I don't understand why we, for every pay period, we transfer money to our general funds, just to meet payroll"?
Furthermore Perry also elaborates on the town's sales tax.
"People are taxed out, in a couple of years those taxes will be gone and would have to be renewed. Like things are now would voters support those taxes?"
He is also concerned with the town's TED program.
"Eventually motorists will recognize Welsh as a speed trap and slow down. And what if the state shuts the TED program down? We must become self sustainable."
Recently Colby Perry directed allegations towards the police department in a letter addressed to Louisiana Legislative Auditor. According to Perry Welsh police officers were engaged in sexual affairs with female high school students and distributing alcohol to persons under the age of 21.
He said already in January he was made aware of an incident where a police officer allegedly made an arrest and body search without having any probable cause.
"I failed when I didn't talk to the police, I should have told them, but at the same time I was just coming into office. I didn't want any blood, it was a very difficult position to put me in."
Eventually Perry heard more accusations, but chose not to contact the Welsh police chief.
"It was my understanding that the chief was aware about it."
He adds, "The chief has yet to contact me about it (the allegations, so it is almost like they knew about it."
So what would Colby Perry recommend one of your constituent to do if he, or she heard the above accusations against the police department?
"They should contact the chief of police."
So why doesn't it apply to Alderman Perry?
"Again, I felt like the chief already was aware of the allegations. In a perfect world, yes, I would have contacted the police, but the way we were ambushed at that meeting (the third budget meeting) I still to this day don't feel secure talking to the police chief. I felt intimidated."
At the council meeting June 6, a public hearing regarding increased salary for Police Chief Marcus Crochet was added to the agenda of the next council meeting Tuesday, July 11 (Date has been corrected by the author).
Perry says he will not vote in favor of such a measure, but welcomes the public's input in the matter.
He states that it is nothing personal against the chief, but he just does not feel confident in supporting a 33 percent pay raise.
"For $15,000 per year we could do a lot," Perry says. He states that he would like to see a pay increase for all employees. An increase for the town's police officers is already in the budget, which was voted on in May.
Perry again elaborates on the budget and says he thinks with a streamlined budget, the town would have been able to afford a pay raise for all town employees.
Perry says he welcomes the public to contact him to discuss these and other topics. He says he can be contacted on-line, or they can call him at (337) 452-1287.
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