Thibodaux Daily Comet
July 27, 2026
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
LAFOURCHE PARISH CIVIL SERVICE BOARD
MAY 13, 2026, REGULAR MEETING
The Civil Service Board of the Lafourche Parish Government met in regular session in the Civil Service Meeting Room located in the Lafourche Parish Agriculture Building, 402 West Fifth Street, Thibodaux, Louisiana, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at five-thirty (5:30) oclock p.m., pursuant to the provisions of a notice of regular session duly promulgated and posted in accordance with the law.
Mr. Adam Lefort, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm with the following:
PRESENT: Mr. Adam Lefort, Chair
Mr. Benjamin Comeaux, Vice-Chair
Mrs. Sarah Daigle
Ms. Kaitlyn Adams
Mrs. Trinette Wallace
ABSENT: None
The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. Adam Lefort.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Item No. 1 on the agenda was the acceptance of minutes from the March 18, 2026 meeting. A motion was offered by Mr. Benjamin Comeaux, seconded by Mrs. Sarah Daigle, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to dispense with the reading of the minutes. A motion was offered by Mrs. Sarah Daigle, seconded by Mr. Benjamin Comeaux, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to adopt the March 18, 2026 minutes as written including all actions taken at the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING
The next item on the agenda was Item No. 4, Public Hearing to hear public comments regarding the following:
Creating a new position of Human Resources Specialist into the Civil Service system on a pay grade level 8; creating said job description.
Mr. Adam Lefort asked whether any board members or members of the audience had comments or questions regarding the proposed Human Resources Specialist position. He noted that the Board had previously discussed the position at its March 18, 2026 meeting, during which Mrs. Savonye Andersonexplained the need for the position within the Human Resources Department. There being no additional comments or questions from the Board or the public, discussion on the proposed position concluded.
Proposed Summary of Pay Ranges by Grade and Pumpers Pay Scale for inclusion in the 2027 Parish Operating and Maintenance Budget. (No changes submitted)
Ms. Jill Naquin explained to the Board that, because no merit increases or Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) were granted in 2026, there was no need to increase the pay scales at this time. Therefore, both pay scales would be submitted to the Parish President for inclusion in the 2027 budget without any proposed changes. Ms. Naquin further explained that the Parish President may make any adjustments deemed necessary during the budget process; however, based on current information, she did not anticipate any increases being implemented in 2027.
Regarding the Pumper Pay Scale, Mr. Adam Lefort asked whether any revisions were currently being considered. Ms. Naquin confirmed that she and the Administration had been working on several options for modifying the Pumper Pay Scale and that proposed changes would be presented to the Board at the July Civil Service meeting.
Mr. Lefort then asked whether any board members had questions or comments regarding the pay scales. Mr. Benjamin Comeaux inquired as to when the pay scales were due for submission. Ms. Naquin explained that Civil Service is required to submit both pay scales to the Parish President for inclusion in the following year's budget by May 31. She stated that the Administration then has the remainder of the year to review, discuss, and adopt the 2027 budget. Ms. Naquin also clarified that modifications to the pay scales could still be made and submitted after the initial deadline, provided the budget had not yet been finalized.
Mr. Comeaux noted that the Pumpers had appeared before the Civil Service Board approximately two months earlier to express concerns regarding their compensation and the current Pumper Pay Scale. He asked what actions the Administration had taken to address those concerns. Ms. Savonye Anderson, Human Resources Director, explained that she, along with the Administration and Human Resources staff, had developed a preliminary proposal utilizing the minimum and midpoint ranges within the existing pay scale. Under the proposal, if a Pumper was assigned an additional pump or pump station, compensation would increase accordingly. Ms. Anderson explained that the proposal would provide approximately $75 for an additional pump station rather than the approximately $40 currently received. She stated that the intent was to provide a meaningful increase while remaining within budgetary constraints.
Ms. Anderson further explained that any proposed changes would apply prospectively and would not result in retroactive adjustments for Pumpers currently employed unless they assumed responsibility for an additional pump after the changes became effective. She noted that the current budget allocation for Pumper salaries is approximately $518,000 and emphasized that any modifications would need to remain within the Parish's budget limitations.
Board members questioned Ms. Anderson regarding the actual amount expended annually on Pumper salaries and whether any unused budgeted funds could potentially be utilized to provide additional compensation to Pumpers with multiple assignments. Ms. Anderson stated that she did nothave the actual expenditure figures available at the meeting but would prepare a presentation for the Board's review at the July Civil Service meeting. She explained that salary budgets are generally developed based on the compensation currently assigned to each position and, therefore, she assumed that the budgeted amount of approximately $518,000 closely reflected actual expenditures. Ms. Anderson added that there is currently one vacant Pumper position.
Mr. Comeaux asked whether the Board could table the resolution until the July meeting. Ms. Naquin explained that the pay scales must be submitted to the Parish President for inclusion in the 2027 budget by the required deadline; however, amendments could still be made and submitted later in the budget process if necessary. Mr. Comeaux expressed concern that significant changes to the Pumper Pay Scale could ultimately affect budget projections. Mr. Lefort clarified that the proposed revisions under discussion would not alter the numerical values contained within the pay scale itself, but rather how the existing scale is applied and assigned. Ms. Anderson further explained that the resolution before the Board established the pay ranges available to Civil Service employees and did not determine the actual compensation paid to individual employees.
Mrs. Sarah Daigle asked for confirmation that the Administration would present proposed changes at the July 15, 2026 Civil Service meeting. Ms. Anderson confirmed that several proposals would be prepared and presented at that time. Mr. Lefort then asked whether the Administration intended to present the proposals to the Pumpers before bringing them to the Board. Ms. Anderson responded in the affirmative. Mr. Lefort stated that this process would ensure that Pumpers had an opportunity to review the proposals and, if they disagreed with any of the proposed changes, they would still have the opportunity to appear before the Board and voice their concerns.
RESOLUTIONS
Item No. 3 was Resolution No. CS26-002 adding a Human Resources Specialist position and job description into the Civil Service system; amending the Job Titles by Pay Grade and the Summary of Pay Ranges by Grade to add said position; and authorizing the Civil Service Department to process all changes. A motion was offered by Mrs. Sarah Daigle, seconded by Ms. Kaitlyn Adams, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to adopt Resolution No. CS26-002 as presented.
Item No. 4 was Resolution No. CS26-003 submitting to the Parish President the Summary of Pay Ranges by Grade and the Pumpers Pay Scale for inclusion in the 2027 Parish Budget; and authorizing the Civil Service Department to process accordingly. A motion was offered by Ms. Kaitlyn Adams, seconded by Mrs. Trinette Wallace, and carried by a vote of (4) yeas, (1) nays, (0) absent, to adopt Resolution No. CS26-003 as presented.
NEW BUSINESS
The next item on the agenda, Item No. 5, was a discussion regarding the Purchasing Specialist 3 job description and a proposed amendment to the positions FLSA status from exempt to non-exempt, with consideration of a motion to proceed with a public hearing.
Item No. 6 was a discussion regarding the Accountant 2 job description and a proposed amendment to the positions FLSA status from non-exempt to exempt, with consideration of a motion to proceed with a public hearing.
Ms. Savonye Anderson, Human Resources Director, explained that the Administration was recommending changes to the FLSA classifications for both the Purchasing Specialist 3 and Accountant 2 positions based upon the duties, responsibilities, and compensation structure associated with each position.
Item No. 7 was a discussion regarding the Right-of-Way Coordinator 1 job description and a proposed amendment to the positions FLSA status from exempt to non-exempt, with consideration of a motion to proceed with a public hearing.
Item No. 8 was a discussion regarding the Right-of-Way Coordinator 2 job description and a proposed amendment to the positions FLSA status from exempt to non-exempt, with consideration of a motion to proceed with a public hearing.
Ms. Anderson requested that Items No. 7 and No. 8 be withdrawn from consideration. She explained that the Administration intends to return to the Board at a future meeting with a proposal to eliminate the Right-of-Way Coordinator 1 and Right-of-Way Coordinator 2 classifications from the Civil Service system.
Item No. 9 was a discussion regarding the Right-of-Way Coordinator 3 job description and a proposed amendment to the positions FLSA status from exempt to non-exempt, with consideration of a motion to proceed with a public hearing.
Ms. Anderson explained that the Administration is evaluating a restructuring of the Right-of-Way Coordinator classifications and anticipates consolidating the current Right-of-Way Coordinator 1, 2, and 3 positions into a single classification. However, she stated that the Administration wished to proceed with updating the FLSA status of the Right-of-Way Coordinator 3 position at this time because the current job duties, responsibilities, and salary requirements support classification as a non-exempt position.
Mr. Adam Lefort asked whether changing a position from exempt to non-exempt status would remove the position from the Civil Service system. Ms. Anderson clarified that it would not. She explained that the distinction relates solely to overtime eligibility under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employees classified as exempt are not eligible for overtime compensation, while employees classified as non-exempt are eligible for overtime compensation. She emphasized that both classifications remain within the classified Civil Service system.
Ms. Anderson further stated that the proposed changes are part of the Administrations ongoing review and restructuring of job descriptions to ensure that position classifications accurately reflect the duties and responsibilities assigned to each position.
Mrs. Sarah Daigle asked for clarification regarding the meaning of the acronym FLSA. Ms. Anderson responded that FLSA stands for the Fair Labor Standards Act.
A motion was offered by Mr. Adam Lefort, seconded by Ms. Kaitlyn Adams, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to proceed with a public hearing regarding Item No. 5, Purchasing Specialist 3; Item No. 6, Accountant 2; and Item No. 9, Right-of-Way Coordinator 3.
Item No. 10 was a discussion regarding the definition of Immediate Family in Chapter 9, Section 4 (Funeral Leave), in the Definitions section of the Civil Service Manual, with consideration of amending the definition to include an employees grandparent and grandchild; possible motion to proceed with a public hearing.
Ms. Savonye Anderson explained that the Administration was requesting that grandparents and grandchildren be added to the definition of Immediate Family within the Civil Service Manual. Mr. Adam Lefort raised questions regarding the scope of the proposed amendment, specifically whether the definition would extend to step-grandparents and step-grandchildren. Mr. Lefort expressed concern that the definition could become overly broad if not clearly defined.
Ms. Jill Naquin explained that the Human Resources Department maintains its own Policies and Procedures Manual, which outlines the requirements employees must satisfy when requesting funeral leave for an immediate family member. She stated that employees are required to provide documentation verifying their relationship with the deceased family member, and that Human Resources reviews each request on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with policy requirements.
Mr. Benjamin Comeaux asked Ms. Anderson to confirm that the proposed amendment had the support of the Administration and was requested by management. Ms. Anderson confirmed that several employees had requested that grandparents and grandchildren be included in the definition of Immediate Family and stated that the Administration supported the proposed change.
A motion was offered by Ms. Kaitlyn Adams, seconded by Mrs. Trinette Wallace, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to proceed with public hearing regarding Item No. 10 amending the Immediate Family definition in the Civil Service Manual to include an employees grandparent and grandchild.
Item No. 11 was a discussion regarding the 2027 Civil Service Budget.
Ms. Jill Naquin, Civil Service Director, presented a brief overview of the proposed 2027 Civil Service budget. She informed the Board that there were no significant changes included in the proposed budget. Ms. Naquin explained that, for the past two years, she had submitted a request to include an Administrative Assistant II position; however, the position was subsequently removed during the budget process each year. As a result, she elected not to include the position in the proposed 2027 budget, citing both budgetary limitations and office space constraints. Ms. Naquin stated that the proposed budget maintains existing funding levels necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Civil Service Department.
Board members engaged in discussion regarding departmental operating expenses and potential technology improvements. During the discussion, Ms. Naquin informed the Board that the Civil Service Department and Human Resources Department are working collaboratively to implement an online application process. She explained that, in an effort to minimize costs, both departments have beencoordinating with the Information Technology Department to develop an updated application system that would streamline the application process while reducing administrative expenses.
A motion was offered by Mrs. Sarah Daigle, seconded by Ms. Kaitlyn Adams, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to submit the 2027 Civil Service budget projections as adequate funding to be included in the 2027 Parish Budget.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Adam Lefort opened a discussion regarding the Pumpers and the proposed modifications to the Pumper Pay Scale. During the discussion, he reminded Ms. Savonye Anderson that the Board expected the Administration to present several proposed options for consideration at the July 15, 2026 Civil Service Board meeting. Ms. Anderson indicated that the Administration was continuing to evaluate potential changes and would be prepared to present recommendations at that time.
Following discussion, a motion was offered by Mr. Benjamin Comeaux, seconded by Mr. Adam Lefort, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent, to add an agenda item to the July 15, 2026 Civil Service Board meeting regarding the modification of the Pumper Pay Scale. The item would include a public discussion to allow interested parties the opportunity to provide input and comment on any proposed changes.
The next Civil Service Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Civil Service Meeting Room at the Lafourche Parish Agriculture Building, 402 West Fifth Street, Thibodaux, LA.
With no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was offered by Mr. Adam Lefort, seconded by Ms. Kaitlyn Adams, and carried by a vote of (5) yeas, (0) nays, (0) absent. The meeting was adjourned at 5:56 PM.
/s/Adam Lefort
Adam Lefort, Chairman
Civil Service Board
Lafourche Parish Government
/s/Jill Naquin
Jill Naquin, Director
Department of Civil Service
Lafourche Parish Government
I, JILL NAQUIN, Civil Service Director for the Lafourche Parish Government, do hereby certify that the foregoing May 13, 2026, minutes were transcribed to the best of my understanding and is a true copy as adopted by the assembled Civil Service Board in regular session on July 15, 2026, at which meeting a quorum was present.
GIVEN UNDER MY OFFICIAL SIGNATURE AND SEAL OF OFFICE ON THIS 16th, DAY OF JULY, 2026.
/s/Jill Naquin
Jill Naquin, Director
Department of Civil Service Lafourche Parish Government
12508938 7/27/26 ($287.04)
Miscellaneous Notices