As the future of the Lafayette City-Parish home rule charter is debated, consolidation and deconsolidation have become buzz words around the parish, but Thursday a new phrase entered the mix: "true consolidation."

True consolidation would make the city of Lafayette and the five municipalities in the parish one entity. For instance there would be one police department, one fire department and one mayor, though Parish President Joey Durel says that doesn't necessarily mean people would lose their jobs.

"The police chief of lets say, Scott might just be the precinct commander of that part of the city," Durel said.

"I never really thought about it, I just assumed that if it was consolidated that my job would go away," said Carencro Mayor Glenn Braseaux.

Under true consolidation Brasseaux would no longer be mayor, but says that okay, so long as it is the will of his constituents.

"True consolidation isn't something that's going to happen anytime soon, but I don't think it hurts us to have the conversation about how to more efficiently provide services to the citizens of Lafayette Parish," Durel said.

If you'd like to join the conversation and the debate , Durel will hold a town hall meeting on the issue Monday, April 12th at 5:30 at the South Regional Library on Johnston Street in Lafayette.

Jim Hummel

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