Mental Health Board Considers Plan

The Ascension Parish Council is considering a new ordinance that puts the Mental Health Board in an advisory role and states that it “shall not interfere with the day-to-day operations.”

The proposal crops up in connection with a long-running dispute between board members and the director of the Mental Health Unit. Last year, board members unsuccessfully attempted to fire Susan Mittendorf.

At the suggestion of Parish President Tommy Martinez, the council hired Billy Arcement’s firm, The Leadership Strategist, to investigate the history of dissention between the board and the director and to make recommendations.

In a lengthy report Thursday, Arcement suggested adoption of the proposed ordinance spelling out duties and limitations of the board and the director.

Arcement told the council “personnel issues caused turmoil” and “miscommunication, leadership failure and a power struggle” plagued the relationship between the board and the director.

The current ordinance under which the agency operates places the board in both advisory and governance positions, “and you can’t have both,” Arcement said.

“The director is caught in the middle by a board that can’t hire and fire,” he said.

“The board needs to be the watchdog of the funds but has to be relegated to a solely advisory position,” Arcement said.

The consultant further suggested the board meet bimonthly rather than once a month “to prevent micromanaging.”

Also, Arcement said, “Name-calling and stubbornness needs to go away.”

Nevertheless, Arcement said, “The board was committed to mental health and I applaud their efforts.”

The council met in lengthy executive session to discuss the issue and will consider the changes in the ordinance proposed by Arcement after the document is reviewed by the parish legal adviser.