New Iberia Fire Department Suing the City of New Iberia

Posted: Apr 19, 2012 5:55 PM by Jenise Fernandez
Updated: Apr 19, 2012 6:55 PM

Raymond Lewis says he's not surprised by this lawsuit. He claims two years ago when he was a New Iberia Councilman he asked the mayor to investigate the fire department.

"Had she dug into this when she was asked to. She would have uncovered this. I think they have a legitimate claim," he said.

Mayor Hilda Curry says she can't comment on the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims the city didn't give firefighters on the job after three years a 2 percent salary increase. The New Iberia Fire Association also alleges the City's policy of restricting activities on sick leave violates the law. Lewis says the City's drug and alcohol policy surprises him. It requires disclosure of all medications and diagnosis by a physician. The association states in the suit --that policy violates privacy.

"If insurance company was requesting that information that's a different story, but not the city," said Lewis.
The association says revenues from a 2003 tax proposition were supposed to go toward the firefighters salary and benefits, but never did.

"There's a lot of credible things and a lot of questions are going to have to be answered by the city," said Lewis.

Calls to current council members were not returned.