By Associated Press - Monday, March 10, 2014

CHALMETTE, La. (AP) - The president of St. Bernard Parish said he has fired the director of the parish’s civic center after the state legislative auditor was asked to examine the facility’s finances.

NOLA.comThe Times-Picayune reported Stephanie Bachemin (https://bit.ly/1oG1LvM) had earlier been suspended by parish President Dave Peralta.

On Monday, Peralta said he fired Bachemin.



Peralta hired Bachemin to direct the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette when he took office in January 2012.

Parish Councilman Richie Lewis and Peralta say they have asked the state legislative auditor to examine the civic center’s books.

The civic center, which includes a 52,400-square-foot auditorium with a stage and a 9,280-square-foot ballroom, is rented out for events and together can accommodate about 3,000 guests.

The center is managed by a nonprofit corporation, St. Bernard Cultural Center Inc., which was created in 1991 and is overseen by three board members. All are parish employees.

Requests seeking comment on Bachemin’s firing were not immediately returned on Monday.

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“The board is now running the center and normal operations will continue, I promise you that,” Peralta said.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, https://www.nola.com

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