By Juanice Gray
jgray@natchitochestimes.com
The La. State Legislative Auditor’s Office has been in contact with Village of Clarence town officials concerning recent allegations of improper management. The Natchitoches Times contacted the Legislative Auditor’s office and confirmed the allegations were being investigated.
A spokesperson said they were taking one concern at a time and were “going through them diligently.” Among those allegations are failure to have proceedings published. According to state statute RS 43:144 a municipal corporation has 20 days to publish meeting minutes. Fines for failure to do so shall be “not less than $25 nor more than $500, or be imprisoned for not less than 10 days nor more than six months, or both.”
As the official journal for the Village of Clarence, the Natchitoches Times has records of all published minutes. Also among the allegations was a stolen patrol unit reported by the Chief of Police. This was confirmed in a Sheriff’s Office incident report dated April 25, 2017. In that report Mayor Tommy Evans stated the unit was in the shop and was taken under his authorization without the Chief’s consent.
Elected officials in the Village of Clarence include Tommy Evans, Mayor; Tamala Chatman, Irma Anthony and Doris Singleton, Aldermen; and Earther Hall, Chief of Police.
The Natchitoches Times will publish updates as they become available.
