Lafayette Consolidated Government has some big shoes to fill. Chief Financial Officer Becky Fontenot Lalumia, the budgetista who has kept a keen watch over taxpayers' finances at City Hall over the past three decades, is planning to retire next year. Known for her hard work and dedication, Lalumia spent the past 32 years with local government, working through eight administrations and four mayors. She began as an entry level accountant with city government in 1977 (after graduating with a near-perfect 3.96 GPA in accounting from USL), working her way up through the ranks and taking over management of consolidated government's finance department in 1998.
"Little does she know but we've already got a plan on locking her doors and not letting her leave," jokes City-Parish President Joey Durel. On a serious note, Durel says, "Her position to me is perhaps the single most difficult to replace in all of government, especially when you take into account her years of experience. Unlike a lot of more administerial positions, she is very, very hands on."
At City Hall, Lalumia's legacy includes helping modernize and improve city-parish government's accounting protocol. Over the past several years, Lalumia also helped direct the refinancing of city-parish bonds that have resulted in millions in public savings. Lalumia has also been active with several local community service organizations, having served on the boards of directors for Volunteer Instructors Teaching Adults and United Way of Acadiana. In 2005, she was one of Acadiana Business' Women Who Mean Business honorees.
"She's irreplaceable," adds LCG Chief Operating Officer Dee Stanley. "The old saying is that nobody is indispensable, and that certainly is correct in that government will continue but to lose someone that has her institutional knowledge... there is no succession plan that replaces that knowledge in one hire."
The plan now being put to the council is to bring on a new executive in the finance department to work with Lalumia over the next year in preparation for taking over in November 2010. The council will vote on whether to approve that plan with final budget adoption at the end of the month.The Durel administration has already identified the person it would like to bring in to succeed Lalumia. Not wanting to release the name before it is official, Stanley would only say that the person already has an inner knowledge of LCG's finances from having worked on audits of city government for the past 20 years.
For her part, 57-year-old Lalumia says she has no immediate plans for her retirement, other than taking some well-earned time off. Durel is hopeful Lalumia will still, post-retirement, assist on a more limited basis with city-parish finances. "She obviously loves what she does," Durel says. "So we're hoping that she'll stick around at least for a few more years, part-time, to continue to work with the [finance] department."
... written by M. Leblanc , September 12, 2009 - 10:11 am
It's true, Becky is irreplaceable unlike Durel.
... written by Cajunhiker , September 12, 2009 - 04:08 pm
Gees, nothing like putting a little pressure on the person taking her place. "...got a plan on locking her doors..." "She's irreplaceable" "So we're hoping that she'll sticks around..." Bottom line is she knows a lot, is nice and was always helpful to the public. She had a career dealing w/ money w/ good ole boys w/out blemish. That seriously is an accomplishment. Article failed to mention what 32 years will get you if you retire from LCG. Nothing bout her retirement pay or benefits. After being in charge of the money since 1998, logic says an independent audit should be done before she leaves, and not by the current private auditor C. Burton Kolder, who appears in line for the position based on Dee's statements. He's managing partner w/ Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Co., and I bet he ain't cheap. If not Kolder, Dee must be talking about sales tax chief auditor Carl Meche w/ the School Board. He's probably cheaper than Kolder cause he's already a government employee. Guess signal was given to existing LCG accountants like Tammy Andrus (chief accountant), Mike Baldridge and Melinda Felps, or finance guy Kerney Simoneaux or Susan Durio w/ the Sheriff's Office NOT to apply. In fact, appears the upcoming open job position won't even be posted. Isn't that illegal. Just sayin'
... written by Trixie Ledet , September 16, 2009 - 11:05 am
Becky Lalumia will indeed be hard to replace. Her knowledge and experience under numerous administrations is something that can't be taught to an incoming person. Its something that has to be earned through sweat equity. I suspect that those "accountants" listed by Cajunhiker are well aware of the pressure and requirements of such a complicated position and maybe they've sent their own signal. Thanks but no Thanks.
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