FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council could take a stance on whether it would favor abortion coverage in the proposed national health care plan when it meets next week.

At its meeting last week, Parish Councilman Butch Middleton opposed expanding the council’s agenda to consider a resolution offered by Parish Councilman Glen Hidalgo that opposed the federal government endorsing any funding for abortions in President Barack Obama’s proposed health care plan.

“I’m against abortion,” Middleton said. “I’m very much pro life. But this resolution is a red herring conservative ploy, simply to just oppose the president’s plans. And I’m sick of conservative tactics like this.”

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If one or more council members oppose expanding the agenda, no expansion is pursued, but the subject is not necessarily over.

Hidalgo said after the meeting that he will make sure the proposal is on the council’s agenda next week.

Also at that meeting, a Charenton group seeking the former Mary Hines Elementary School ap-proached the council, but did not garner support because the council is not the property’s owner.

Eltonnette Brimedge, a spokesman representing Charenton Community Outreach, explained to the council that a large group of residents there are interested in acquiring the former school to use as a community center. The school was one of four closed in May due to the opening of Raintree Elementary School.

Most of the council members said they did not have problems supporting the idea, but that the property belongs to the St. Mary Parish School Board.

Parish Councilman Rev. Craig Matthews, who represents the area, said three schools have been advertised for a couple of months now, and no one has shown interest in bidding on any of the property.

“I think the board should consider some sort of an arrangement with these folks,” Matthews said.

Parish Councilman Steve Bierhorst agreed.

“After all, it was the tax dollars of Charenton residents that built Mary Hines School in the first place,” Biehorst said.