SWC TO REVIEW UPDATED DRUG POLICY

The St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission will review an updated drug
policy for its employees at its monthly meeting tonight.

It will also consider a new criteria for pulling bins in the recycling
program among other administrative decisions at the meeting scheduled to
start at 6 p.m. in the commission office in Beggs.

Under the new drug policy, employees will be given two opportunities for
rehabilitation if they test positive for drugs.

Under the first offense, an employee will be given a three-day suspension
without pay and a two-year probation with regular drug testing. An employee
can utilize hospitalization insurance to participate in a voluntary
rehabilitation program.

If the second offense occurs within five years of the first offense, an
employee will be required to submit to a drug rehabilitation program at
their own expense and submit to mandatory drug testing for two years. But,
if the employee is caught a third time within a five year period, that
employee will be subject to automatic termination under the proposed policy.

The proposal was recommended to the commission from the adminstrative
committee as a way for dealing with Solid Waste District employees who may
have substance abuse problems.

The commission will also vote on updated job descriptions for its 28
employees. Commissioner Edward Brisco suggested changes to the descriptions
presented last month. The descriptions, along with suggested changed will
be presented to the committee for review.

During the adminstrative committee meeting it was also recommended that the
contract for Executive Director Gary Bonvillain be extended for three years
beginning Aug. 15 and his annual salary be increased by $3,600 each year.

At the monthly meeting the commission will also consider allowing
Bonvillain to apply for a burn permit and later purchase an air curtain
burner to dispose of wood debris in the landfill.