JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Months of back and forth between the majority of the Jefferson Parish Council and Inspector General, Kim Chatelain came to a head on Wednesday night.
In a packed, 3-hour-long meeting, the Ethics and Compliance Commission, which oversees the OIG, said it would appoint an independent council to review the OIG.
This all started with a letter the OIG issued earlier this year that raised concerns about a project in Gretna. The $10 million project would allocate public funds to a nonprofit that would build a brewpub, restaurant, and parking garage.
Chatelain and At-Large Council member Jennifer Van Vrancken, have both strongly criticized the council's plan to use parish funds on the project, which has led to questions and criticism of Chatelain and Van Vrancken's friendship.
On Wednesday, Chatelain told the commission that she's known Van Vrancken for more than a decade but denied accusations that she traveled abroad with her as some council members suggested.
Around two dozen elected officials and parish residents voiced their opinions on the letter.
Many residents were in support of the OIG and the work they do. However, leaders were critical of the way in which the letter was published and distributed.
Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said she supports the oversight of government, but she asked that protocol be followed.
Council members Hans Liljeberg, Arita Bohannan, Deano Bonano, Marion Edwards, and Byron Lee have criticized the OIG for publishing the letter without allowing for a rebuttal or giving them more notice. The OIG said those things are required for a report but not a letter.
Chatelain accused the council of retaliating for issuing a product they didn't like.
The commission said on Wednesday that in order to move past the issue and protect the integrity of the OIG, an investigation was needed.
Chatelain was asked by the commission if she would do anything differently.
"The reason I'm telling you that maybe I wouldn't do it is not because I didn't believe in what I was doing, because I did," Chatelain said, "But if I would've known the hail storm that it was going to bring down I might have said, 'Is it worth it?' and I'll admit I'm embarrassed to even say that."
The review will be funded by the OIG and the Ethics and Compliance Commission.
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