Pearl River Police Chief Bennie Raynor can now have the final say in personnel decisions, the Pearl River Board of Aldermen decided during a Sept. 8 town hall meeting.

The move appears to be a mere formality. Raynor said he was previously given the authority over hiring and firing of department employees when he first took office in the mid-1980s, but the act was never recorded with the state.

However, an issue arose a few months back, when the police department was checking into a problem situation and wanted to release someone. “I took a look at the Lawrason Act, and it says that all those decisions are supposed to be run by the council,” said Alderman Jay Scroggins. “Most likely we would agree with it, but having that step on the books protects the officers, so a chief can’t just get mad and fire everybody.”

Enacted in 1898, the Lawrason Act set forth a general legislative charter to provide a uniform type of government for all municipalities in Louisiana. This fundamental incorporation law governs nearly 250 villages, towns and cities across the state, establishing the structure of government such as that used in Pearl River.

Many provisions relevant to specific municipalities have been added to Lawrason over the years. Raynor must now take the board’s ruling to a state legislator, most likely Louisiana Sen. A.G. Crowe in this case, who will present it to the state for inclusion.

Raynor said an attorney with the Louisiana Municipal Association told him that such a step was not mandatory.

“He said it’s official as long as the town votes on it, and they can vote to change it any time,” said Raynor. “I didn’t really know the process the first time around, so I want to make sure it’s on the books now.”

In other business, the board passed a resolution to add electronic gambling to the public ballot in the October 2010 election. The board voted in July to ban all types of electronic gambling, including video bingo, but wanted to put the measure to a vote of the people.

The next meeting of the board is set for Oct. 13 at the Town Hall. For more information call 863-5800.