June 24, 2016: Sea Coast Echo: Mayor, council at odds in Bay
Members of the Bay St. Louis City Council on Thursday grilled Mayor Les Fillingame on several of the findings in the Office of State Auditor (OSA) Performance Review Report made public last week.
Members of the Bay St. Louis City Council on Thursday grilled Mayor Les Fillingame on several of the findings in the Office of State Auditor (OSA) Performance Review Report made public last week.
Feb 5, 2016: Sea Coast Echo: Mayor intends to veto bond use to replace DOJ funds
Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame on Friday delivered city council members a notice that he intends to veto their action earlier this week to go after his surety bond company to repay funds diverted from the U.S. Department of Justice forfeiture account.
Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame on Friday delivered city council members a notice that he intends to veto their action earlier this week to go after his surety bond company to repay funds diverted from the U.S. Department of Justice forfeiture account.
Feb 2, 2016: Sun Herald: Update: Bay St. Louis council seeks to tap mayor's surety bond over missing $300K
The city council on Tuesday voted to file bond claims against Mayor Les Fillingame, two former city clerks and the city's fiscal auditor to recoup more than $300,000 owed to a U.S. Department of Justice forfeitures account.
The city council on Tuesday voted to file bond claims against Mayor Les Fillingame, two former city clerks and the city's fiscal auditor to recoup more than $300,000 owed to a U.S. Department of Justice forfeitures account.
Jan 8, 2016: Sea Coast Echo: Auditors explain review of Bay files
Mayor Les Fillingame spoke Tuesday about his frustrations with continued public chatter and speculations about the Department of Justice review, also requested by the council after it was revealed that police forfeiture funds were not kept in a separate account as required by law. Although an update is not officially in on the final findings, Fillingame said he intends to clear all the rumors up with details and facts.
Mayor Les Fillingame spoke Tuesday about his frustrations with continued public chatter and speculations about the Department of Justice review, also requested by the council after it was revealed that police forfeiture funds were not kept in a separate account as required by law. Although an update is not officially in on the final findings, Fillingame said he intends to clear all the rumors up with details and facts.
Oct 17, 2015: Sea Coast Echo: BWSD welcomes Favre to the board
The board swore Favre into office at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday. Bay St Louis Mayor Les Fillingame appointed Favre to fill the remainder of former board member Mike Benvenutti's term. Benvenutti's resignation was effective on July 31.
The board swore Favre into office at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday. Bay St Louis Mayor Les Fillingame appointed Favre to fill the remainder of former board member Mike Benvenutti's term. Benvenutti's resignation was effective on July 31.
Oct 7, 2015: Sun Herald: Bay council accuses administration of submitting 'altered' invoices
The city council refused to approve all payment claims on the docket at Tuesday's meeting, blaming Mayor Les Fillingame's administration for not providing invoices in a timely manner and in some cases submitting incomplete invoices.
The city council refused to approve all payment claims on the docket at Tuesday's meeting, blaming Mayor Les Fillingame's administration for not providing invoices in a timely manner and in some cases submitting incomplete invoices.
Oct 6, 2015: Sun herald: Where's the $315K? Bay St. Louis mayor vetoes call for federal probe
Mayor Les Fillingame has vetoed the city council's call for a federal probe into the unknown whereabouts of up to $315,000 in U.S. Department of Justice money reserved for the police department.
Mayor Les Fillingame has vetoed the city council's call for a federal probe into the unknown whereabouts of up to $315,000 in U.S. Department of Justice money reserved for the police department.
Sept 26, 2015: Sea Coast Echo: Bay council approves budget, cuts funding for shelter
"I'm glad it's done," Mayor Les Fillingame said Friday after the council had adjourned. "There were a lot of productive work sessions .. but we have a final budget that reflects a tremendous amount of effort and input from both the elected officials and the public.
"I'm glad it's done," Mayor Les Fillingame said Friday after the council had adjourned. "There were a lot of productive work sessions .. but we have a final budget that reflects a tremendous amount of effort and input from both the elected officials and the public.
June 5, 2015: Sea Coast Echo: Bay council discusses harbor fees and cut cables on seawall
Mayor Les Fillingame said people have been cutting the braided-steel cable railings at the top of the wall in order to access the beach, rather than climbing over or under the cables; or walking to one of the city’s approved beach access points.
Mayor Les Fillingame said people have been cutting the braided-steel cable railings at the top of the wall in order to access the beach, rather than climbing over or under the cables; or walking to one of the city’s approved beach access points.
May 1, 2015: Sea Coast Echo: Mayor: Bay has no budget shortfall
Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame on Tuesday emphatically answered questions about a recent $140,000 withdrawal from the city's utility fund saying all of the money is accounted for and the accounts will be reconciled by the end of the month.
Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame on Tuesday emphatically answered questions about a recent $140,000 withdrawal from the city's utility fund saying all of the money is accounted for and the accounts will be reconciled by the end of the month.
Apr 28, 2015: Sea Coast Echo: Supervisor candidate expelled from city council meeting, charged with disturbance of peace.
Tensions soon began to escalate during a lengthy, and heated, discussion about city finances between Mayor Les Fillingame and Ward Six Council Lonnie Falgout.
Tensions soon began to escalate during a lengthy, and heated, discussion about city finances between Mayor Les Fillingame and Ward Six Council Lonnie Falgout.
Apr 26, 2015: Sun Herald: Bay St. Louis councilmen question $140K shortfall in utility account
Mayor Les Fillingame said there's no problem with the accounts, only that it has taken a little longer to calculate. "They've asked that question so many times, and we told them we were going to settle it quarterly," Fillingame said. "We're going to settle the second quarter this month, and then we'll settle it month-to-month (afterwards).
Mayor Les Fillingame said there's no problem with the accounts, only that it has taken a little longer to calculate. "They've asked that question so many times, and we told them we were going to settle it quarterly," Fillingame said. "We're going to settle the second quarter this month, and then we'll settle it month-to-month (afterwards).
Apr 7, 2015: Seacoast Echo: Mayors ‘disappointed’ by Tidelands Fund allocations
"We will continue to pursue additional funding during the course of next year's allocations," Bay Mayor Les Fillingame said Tuesday. "We're always seeking additional moneys to spend appropriately for shovel-ready projects."
"We will continue to pursue additional funding during the course of next year's allocations," Bay Mayor Les Fillingame said Tuesday. "We're always seeking additional moneys to spend appropriately for shovel-ready projects."
Feb 6, 2015: Sun Herald: Bay St. Louis could raise judge's salary to $12k
Mayor Les Fillingame is proposing to hire recently appointed Municipal Court Judge Stephen Maggio as a city employee rather than continue to pay him $175 per week as an independent contractor.
Mayor Les Fillingame is proposing to hire recently appointed Municipal Court Judge Stephen Maggio as a city employee rather than continue to pay him $175 per week as an independent contractor.