LMR September 2020

LaMATS Board Leadership Confirmed
The LaMATS Board of Directors approved its proposed
2020-2021 slate of members and officers on July 28, and
the list was ratified the following day at the annual LMA
stockholders meeting.
Officers named for the coming year are: Ville Platte
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine (President); St. Francisville Mayor
Billy D’Aquilla (Vice President); and Crowley Councilman
Vernon “Step” Martin (Secretary/Treasurer). Rayne
Mayor Chuck Robichaux was selected to serve as an
officer upon Mayor D’Aquilla’s expected retirement
at the end of 2020. Other Board members include
Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux; Woodworth Mayor
David Butler; Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle; Grosse
Tete Mayor/LMA First Vice President Michael Chauffe;
Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields; Rayville Mayor Harry
Lewis; Pineville Councilman Nathan Martin; Farmerville
Clerk Gay Nell Pepper (CMC); Baker Mayor Darnell
Waites; Sibley Mayor/LMA President Jimmy Williams;
and LMA Executive Director John Gallagher. LaMATS
staff members are: Executive Director, Cliff Palmer, and
Program Manager, Mary Joseph.
LaMATS thanks all our dedicated Directors and looks
forward to the coming year of progress in service to
Louisiana’s local governments.
IMMEDIATE PROGRAM ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The time is now to enroll your municipality into the
LaMATS Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and Occupational
License Tax (OLT) collection services, both of which
begin annually each January. LaMATS long-running IPT
program collected a total of $23.5 million in revenue
this year for the more than two-thirds of Louisiana’s
local governments that participate. Collecting
important revenues and sparing members considerable
administrative effort, LaMATS growing OLT program is
delivered by leading provider Avenu Insights & Analytics
(formerly RDS), and offers a robust, user-friendly
platform approved by municipal staff and local business
owners nationwide.
LaMATS is also accepting September enrollments
in our new Franchise Fee Audit service, designed to
increase municipal revenues from utility providers,
such as regional cable and electric companies, whose
contracts with local government often predate current
administrations and rarely receive thorough review of
terms for regulatory or market changes that may benefit
municipal coffers.
Contact Executive Director Cliff Palmer (cpalmer@
lamats.net) to inquire about participation in these or any
LaMATS program.
Hail and Farewell to Marlaine Peachey
The LaMATS and LMA staff will miss our dear friend and
colleague, Marlaine Peachey, as she prepares to retire
with her boss, Mandeville Mayor Donald Villere, after 20
years of municipal service. As the Executive Assistant
to the Mayor and past LMA Executive Board member as
President of the La. Association of Municipal Secretaries
and Assistants (LAMSA), Marlaine has played a vital
role over the years planning LMA District meetings
and coordinating important training conferences for
LAMSA. Marlaine has dutifully served three Mandeville
mayors, a local fire district as board secretary, and Vice
Chair of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission.
And in her spare time, she authored the Christianbased
book, “Sharing Your Love Story,” has charmed
audiences around the country as a gifted speaker, and
taught weekly Bible classes to women and children.
John Gallagher (LMA Executive Director), Myra Walker
(LAMSA President and Walker clerk), and Cliff Palmer
(LaMATS Executive Director) said of Marlaine, “she is
a true professional in every sense with a genuine and
caring heart for all. We will miss her creative ideas and
energy in the workplace, and wish her much happiness
in her next journey.”
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Daniel Hebert, President
Ronnie Hebert, Chairman
Brady Sessums, Vice President
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LMR | SEPTEMBER 2020