LAFAYETTE, La. — The Lafayette Consolidated Government announced on Friday several emergency workforce reductions at several of its sites across Lafayette due to COVID-19.
Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory made the announcement in a release and stated that these are the first steps in a number of measures to address the financial shortfalls in this fiscal year and in preparation for the budget planning cycle leading up to the beginning of the new Fiscal Year on November 1.
According to LCG, on June 5, there will be 101 LCG employees including 23 full-time and 78 part-time employees who work at the Acadiana Nature Station, the Science Museum, three Senior Centers and the Heymann Center who will be laid off.
The three LCG Senior Centers are the Greenhouse, the Art Studio and the Rosehouse.
Six employees from these centers are being retained to ensure the security and well-being of these physical locations. Six vacant positions are also being eliminated.
These facilities will either remain closed or are operating at a maximum of 25% capacity in compliance with the Emergency Declarations of the Governor, the release states.
LCG also said that employees being laid off were notified Friday and provided two weeks paid employment, and advance notice to make preparations.
These employees will be placed on the Civil Service “rehire” list so that they may immediately return to work if and when circumstances permit.
Employees who are laid off will receive payment for accrued vacation leave and accrued sick leave that has not been expended, consistent with existing regulations governing these forms of compensation.
Eligible employees may also elect to retire at this time, with all of the associated benefits.
Guillory also made the following statement in the announcement of the layoffs:
These necessary steps are the result of several weeks of meetings, discussions and exploration with Department Directors, the Administration, the Human Resources Division and the Civil Service Department regarding LCG’s options in responding to this fiscal emergency. In taking this latest step, we continue to carefully review our operating and capital budgets; we have cancelled discretionary contracts and budgetary line items; eliminated dozens of vacant positions; and are postponing or eliminating capital expenditures where appropriate. We will revisit the issues underlying the impact on these positions and the operation of these entities during our budget process this summer, in consultation with our City and Parish Councils.
LCG says that if it is able to secure additional funding from state or federal sources, if the fiscal situation materially changes, or if there is a clear path to the full reopening of these institutions, then some or all of these positions may be restored at the beginning of the new Fiscal Year on November 1.
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