The Committee for Rebuild Lafayette North was created in the 1990s in part to help with north Lafayette development after a $240 million bond initiative was approved by voters. The bond money has been spent, leaving the committee with no clear purpose.

Meanwhile, other north Lafayette groups and business owners are working on plans for developing north Lafayette.

During budget hearings last fall, the council moved the $36,500 from the planning, zoning and codes department for contractual services to council reserve, essentially ending funding for consultant Phil Lank, who organizes the monthly Rebuild Lafayette North meetings.

"To give money to a group to have a meeting, I don't think you can do that," said Councilman Linwood Broussard. "A lot of good came out of this, but you can't just keep giving somebody $36,500 a year."

Lank has received about $300,000 serving as consultant for the committee since around 1997, he said.

Councilman Chris Williams said the move has political implications because it is supported by Planning Commission member Fred Prejean, who has announced he may seek election to the District 44 state House of Representatives seat, which Williams also purportedly is considering.

"I see this as an attack on the northside," Williams said.

Councilman Louis Benjamin said people with political ambitions are using Rebuild Lafayette North as a political football.  "Somebody's going to end up road-kill," he said.

Councilman Dale Bourgeois said he would prefer the money stay in reserve until another group or business people devise a plan for rebuilding the northside.

Not funding Rebuild Lafayette North equates the council taking money from northside frontage roads to fund Verot School Road widening, Williams said.

"For those like Mr. Conque who profess to look out for the best interests of the Northside, we appreciate your interest, but if you are our friend, we don't need any enemies," Williams said.

Councilman Rob Stevenson said that there are many good groups working on rebuilding the northside.

"I say we let those people do their work then move this money to where it would do the most good and not just throw money down a rat-hole just to say we care or for someone's political football," Stevenson aid.

The council voted 7-2 against moving the money to the planning, zoning and codes department for contractual services. Williams and Benjamin cast the only favorable votes.