Jan 15, 2025 Ethics & Compliance Commission meeting

YEAH.

KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN.

[00:00:01]

[I. Call Commission meeting to order]

UM, AT FIVE OH ONE ROLL CALL SHEIKA, AKA.

PRESENT.

CHRIS CLEMENT.

HERE.

MONICA PIERRE.

HERE.

FRANK YOUNG.

HERE.

JOEL MCCLELLAN.

HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

HAS EVERYBODY

[III. Review and approval of Minutes from the November 20, 2024 & December 17, 2024 meetings]

YES.

OKAY.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? SO MOVED, SECONDED.

OKAY.

UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO.

OKAY.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO,

[V. Interview with attorney candidates to perform review of work and independence of the Inspector General]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

UM, BEFORE WE BEGIN THE INTERVIEW, WE HAD, THE COMMITTEE HAD ORIGINALLY VETTED THREE FIRMS. ONE OF THE FIRMS THAT WERE, WAS VETTED CL SUVA OUT OF BATON ROUGE, HAD A PRIOR COMMITMENT TODAY IN, UM, ANOTHER PARISH THEY COULD NOT GET HERE IN TIME FOR THE MEETING TONIGHT.

THEY DID OFFER THEMSELVES FOR ANOTHER TIME TO BE INTERVIEWED.

I WILL DEFER THAT TO THE COMMISSION'S DECISION.

UH, WE DO HAVE TWO ATTORNEYS HERE TONIGHT TO BE INTERVIEWED, MR. GIBBONS AND MR. HERMAN.

AND, UM, FOLLOWING THAT INTERVIEW, THE, THE COMMISSION CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO HOW YOU WISH TO PROCEED.

OKAY.

UH, BUT PERHAPS I THINK THE, THE BEST WAY WE CAN DO IT IS ALPHABETICALLY.

SO I, I THINK MR. GIBBONS WOULD BE OUR FIRST CANDIDATE TO BE, UM, TO BE EXAMINED OR REVIEWED OR, OR, UH, INTERVIEWED.

AND BILLY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME HERE, IT MIGHT BE EASIER FOR YOU TO DO SO.

UM, JERRY, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY, WOULD YOU MIND JUST REVIEWING WITH EVERYONE THE SCOPE OF THE WORK? A ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE THE PROPOSED SCOPE OF THE ENGAGEMENT, UM, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S TWOFOLD BASED UPON OUR PRIOR DISCUSSIONS AND, UH, THE PRIOR MEETINGS WITH, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL SPOKE AT IN NOVEMBER TO PERFORM A REVIEW OF PUBLIC LETTERS 24 0 1 AND 24 0 2 RENDER AN OPINION IF SUCH PUBLIC LETTERS WERE ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH JEFFERSON PARISH ORDINANCE IS AN ALL APPLICABLE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.

AND TWO, WHETHER THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS MAINTAINED THE REQUISITE LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE PERFORMANCE OF HER DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL AND, UH, THE CANDIDATES YOU WILL BE INTERVIEWING TONIGHT.

UH, AGAIN, THIS WILL BE AN ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS WITHOUT, UH, WE WILL LEAVE IT TO THEIR JUDGMENT.

WHOEVER IS APPOINTED WILL BE TO THEIR JUDGMENT, HOW THEY CONDUCT THE INTERVIEW, AND THEN ISSUE THE REPORT TO THE COMMISSION.

AND THE FIRST CANDIDATE WILL BE BILLY GIBBONS.

YOU HAVE, IN A PACKAGE I PROVIDED TO YOU, UH, MR. GIBBONS', UH, CV, I WOULD ASK THAT HE INTRODUCE HIMSELF BRIEFLY A LITTLE BIT.

UH, PERHAPS THAT'LL AVOID SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THE BEGINNING.

SURE.

UM, WELL HOLD THAT DOWN IF YOU'LL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

UM, BILLY GIBBONS, NICE TO MEET EVERYBODY.

UM, I, UH, I PRACTICE AT, UH, SHAKI, UM, EVANS, UH, MAGO MCKEAN HERE IN TOWN.

UM, I HANDLE MOSTLY, UM, CRIMINAL DEFENSE WORK AND COMMERCIAL LITIGATION.

UM, I GUESS A FEW, A FEW POINTS THAT, THAT I THOUGHT I'D MENTION, YOU KNOW, SORT OF IN CONNECTION WITH, WITH THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL ASSIGNMENT.

I WAS, I SPENT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR, UM, IN THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HANDLED LOTS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND, AND, AND PROSECUTIONS.

UM, FOR THE PAST, I GUESS CLOSE TO 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, UM, WHERE I'VE HANDLED, UH, NUMEROUS, UH, CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS, UM, FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES, EITHER REPRESENTING THE, THE COMPANY AND, AND DOING THE INVESTIGATION, OR ALSO, UM, SOMETIMES REPRESENTING THE EMPLOYEE OR THE OFFICIAL WHO IS, YOU KNOW, BE BEING INVESTIGATED.

UM, I'VE DONE A FAIR BIT OF PUBLIC WORK.

I'VE REPRESENTED, UM, A FEW, UM, SHERIFF'S OFFICES, DA'S OFFICES, UH, THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, UM, SOME SCHOOL BOARDS.

UH, AND, AND I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF, OF LITIGATION WITH PUBLIC AGENCY.

SO, SO I SORT OF FEEL, UM, YOU KNOW, COMFORTABLE IN THAT, IN THAT FIELD.

UM, AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, ON A RELATED NOTE, I'VE HAD LOTS OF CASES THAT, UM, ON THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE SIDE THAT HAVE GOTTEN, UM, MEDIA ATTENTION.

SO, SO I, I FEEL LIKE I KNOW HOW TO HANDLE MYSELF, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THAT ARENA.

AND THEN JUST WITH RESPECT TO, TO, TO ETHICS ISSUES, UM, UH, I'M,

[00:05:01]

I HAVE BEEN FOR, FOR I GUESS ABOUT THE PAST THREE YEARS.

UM, I HAVE HAD LOTS OF CASES, UM, WITH, WITH THE, UH, LOUISIANA ETHICS ADMINISTRATION, UM, DEF YOU KNOW, DEFENDING, UM, USUALLY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, UM, WITH ON CASES IN FRONT OF, IN FRONT OF THEM.

AND THEN, UM, I, I REPRESENT, UH, ON A PRETTY PRETTY REGULAR BASIS, LAWYERS AND DOCTORS IN FRONT OF THE, UM, ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY BOARD AND THE, UM, MEDICAL, UM, THE, THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS ON, ON ETHICAL, UM, ISSUES.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? HELLO, MY NAME IS FRANK YOUNG.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

ALRIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

UH, UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, UM, AS AN, YOU KNOW, YOUR DUTY, IF YOU ARE SELECTED, IS GONNA BE TO INVESTIGATE AND, UH, I'M THE SCOPE OF THAT INVESTIGATION.

I, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, UH, CERTAINLY WHAT WE WANNA FIND OUT HERE IS IF THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IN JEFFERSON PARISH IS INDEED ACTING INDEPENDENTLY, AND IF SHE'S TRULY INDEPENDENT, CAN I BE ASSURED THAT THE SCOPE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION WILL BE LIMITED TO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION? IN OTHER WORDS, UM, WE'RE SENDING YOU IN TO FIND A SPECIFIC THING, UH, NOT TO TURN OVER EVERY BOX AND OPEN EVERY FILE IN THE OFFICE.

UH, AND, AND, AND ON A FOLLOW UP TO THAT IS THAT I'M SURE AT SOME POINT YOUR RECOMMENDATION OR REPORT WILL BECOME AT SOME POINT PUBLIC MM-HMM .

AND I WOULD WANT THOSE, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD WANT NOT TO FIND FINDING TO BE, UH, KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, BUT WHAT THINGS THAT YOU MAY LEARN ALONG THE WAY, UH, WHERE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS, UH, UH, AGREED TO KEEP SOMEONE'S IDENTITY PRIVATE.

THOSE ARE MY TWO CONCERNS.

UH, ONE THAT YOU DON'T TURN OVER THE OFFICE, UH, LOOKING FOR JUST ANYTHING.

AND NUMBER TWO, THAT WE'RE GONNA RESPECT, UH, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S, UH, CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT WITH PEOPLE THAT SHE MAY HAVE INTERVIEWED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE TOPIC AT HAND.

YES, YES.

I, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT.

AND I, AND I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, TO BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES, I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN THE, THE, THE, THE COURSE OF MY PRACTICE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL, UM, WE'RE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, STAY WITHIN WHAT, WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

AND, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, IN MY PRIVATE PRACTICE, IT'S SORT OF A, A MATTER OF NECESSITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF MY CLIENTS DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'VE GOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

AND SO WE HAVE TO TRY TO BE EFFICIENT AND, AND BE ON TARGET.

SO, SO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND THEN TO YOUR SECOND POINT, UM, YES, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT TOO.

YOU KNOW, THAT WHEN I WAS WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A, A, A, YOU KNOW, A PREMIER RULE THERE OF, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THINGS CONFIDENTIAL.

SAME THING WITH CORPORATE, YOU KNOW, INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS.

MOST OF THOSE STAY CONFIDENTIAL.

AND, AND YES, I'M, I'M VERY AWARE OF THAT.

AND CAN, UM, YEAH, I, I THINK I CAN, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT I'LL, I'LL STAY WITHIN BOTH OF THOSE, UH, IN THE LINES OF BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES.

THANK YOU.

AND REMEMBER THAT MR. HERMAN, 'CAUSE I'LL BE ASKING YOU THE SAME QUESTION, .

OKAY.

LESS WORDS.

.

HELLO, UH, MR. GIBBONS, MY NAME IS MONICA PIERRE.

AND, UH, BA, BASED UPON ALL YOUR, YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF COMFORT INTERVIEWING ELECTED OFFICIALS, INTERVIEWING MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR POSITIONS? I, I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

I MEAN, I, I'VE, I'VE REPRESENTED, UM, LOTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, UM, IN, IN MY DEFENSE PRACTICE.

I'VE ALSO, YOU KNOW, A AS A PROSECUTOR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD, I, I HAD CASES WHERE WE PROSECUTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

SO I, I'M, I DON'T, I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY THAT.

AND I, I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, MS. GIBBONS, UH, I'M CHRIS CLEMENT.

UH, UM, I'M, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT JERRY OKAY.

THE FIRST ONE WAS, DOES

[00:10:01]

OKAY.

UM, ARE THERE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT COULD BE SEEN AS AN APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

OKAY.

THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

YEAH.

WELL, MY QUESTION WAS A VERY SPECIFIC VERSION OF THAT.

SO YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, YOU TALKED ABOUT BOTH, UM, HAVE HAVING AS CLIENTS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND THEN ALSO, UH, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT, JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE NOT DEFENDED, UH, JEFFERSON PARISH OR ITS AGENCIES IN ANY CAPACITY.

JUST MAKING SURE.

I HAVE NOT, I MEAN, OVER THE YEARS I HAVE, UM, I HAVE REPRESENTED SOME, UH, I'VE REPRESENTED, UM, COUNCILMAN LEE, UM, IN THE PAST.

UM, I HAVE REPRESENTED, UM, I, I THINK THAT'S IT.

I MEAN, I, I, I MAY HAVE REPRESENTED SOME DISTRICT ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ON SOME LIMITED ISSUES IN THE PAST, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY I, I'M NOT REPRESENTING ANY, ANY, UM, JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

BUT YOU HAVE IN THE PAST? IN THE PAST I HAVE, YES.

RECENT, PAST, OR YEARS AGO? NO.

SO, UH, COUNCILMAN LEE, I DEFENDED HIM IN A DIS ELECTION DISQUALIFICATION, UM, LAWSUIT, WELL, TWICE ACTUALLY.

SO THE MOST RECENT ONE WOULD'VE BEEN IN 2023, AND THEN BEFORE THAT WAS IN 2019.

THANK YOU.

PRIOR TO BEING CONTACTED BY MR. SULLIVAN, WERE YOU AWARE OF THE SITUATION THAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN JEFFERSON PARISH BETWEEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND COUNCILMAN AND WOMEN? THE ONLY VERY SUPERFICIALLY FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE, IN THE NEWSPAPER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A FINAL QUESTION.

WHAT SETS YOU APART AS THE RIGHT CANDIDATE TO DO THIS? UM, I, I WOULD SAY MY, MY EXPERIENCE, UM, WITH, IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THEN ALSO, UM, AS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, AS A, AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER, I, I THINK THAT I, A LOT OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH AND IS, IS, UM, INVESTIGATIONS INTO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WAS, WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING, WHICH I THINK THIS IS, UM, THAT, THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, IS CALLED FOR HERE.

SO I, I DO THINK THAT I'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD HELP ME TO, TO, UM, ACCOMPLISH THE TASK.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM MR. HERMAN.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND AGAIN, WE'D ASK MR. HERMAN IF HE WOULD, JUST TO GIVE A, A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO HIMSELF AND HIS PRACTICE, WHAT IT ENCOMPASSES, AND WHAT HE, UH, ENGAGES IN, IN HIS WORK.

SURE.

SO I HAVE A, A BROAD CIVIL PRACTICE OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS.

UM, I'VE DONE PLAINTIFF WORK, DEFENDANT WORK, UM, COMMERCIAL STUFF, PI STUFF, JUST JUST A VERY BROAD RANGE OF CASES.

WHAT I'M PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR IS I WAS ONE OF THE TWO HEADS OF THE BP OIL SPILL LITIGATION.

AND SO THAT HAD, UM, A NUMBER OF CHALLENGING ISSUES, SOME IN DEALING WITH THE PRESS AND OR, UM, POLITICAL CONSTITUENTS.

BUT THEN ALSO THERE WAS A, UM, UH, AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL INVESTIGATION THAT WAS CONDUCTED, UM, UH, IN THAT LITIGATION.

AND, UM, I HAD A LOT OF, OF, OF EXPOSURE TO THAT.

UM, OVER THE PAST, I WOULD SAY 10 YEARS, I HAVE, UM, BEEN FAIRLY ENGAGED IN VARIOUS ISSUES OF ATTORNEY, ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL, UM, CONDUCT ISSUES.

I WAS A LAWYER CHAIR OF ONE OF THE HEARING COMMITTEES FOR THE LOUISIANA DISCIPLINARY BOARD, WHO KIND OF ACTS LIKE THE CHIEF JUDGE OF A THREE JUDGE PANEL THAT DOES, UM, INVESTIGATIONS AND CONDUCTS HEARINGS, AND THEN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD, AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO THE SUPREME COURT ON DISCIPLINARY ISSUES.

I'VE BEEN ON THE LOUISIANA RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT COMMITTEE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I HAVE STEPPED IN AND BEEN APPOINTED TO THE RECEIVERSHIP PANEL SO THAT IF AN ATTORNEY IS DISBARRED OR BECOMES INCAPACITATED OR DECEASED, UM,

[00:15:01]

UM, AND WHEN I WAS AT HERMAN HERMAN, WE WERE KIND OF GENERAL OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

UM, I WASN'T THE MAIN ATTORNEY INVOLVED IN THAT.

IT WAS, UM, UH, STEVE LANE, BUT I DID DO A FEW THINGS THAT ARE, THEY KIND OF SEEM A LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS.

UM, VERY EARLY IN MY PRACTICE, WE ARGUED A CASE BEFORE THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT ABOUT WHETHER THE CITY COUNCIL COULD HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITHOUT SENDING THAT OUT TO BID.

UM, SO I WAS KIND OF FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

AND THEN AFTER KATRINA, I WAS, UH, INVOLVED A LITTLE BIT IN TWO THINGS, UM, WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

ONE WAS A SUBPOENA WAS SERVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WITH RESPECT TO THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOAA PROGRAM.

UM, AND I WAS IN CHARGE OF RESPONDING TO THAT SUBPOENA.

AND THEN ALSO, UH, VERY SMALL ROLE, BUT I'M SURE THAT YOU REMEMBER, THERE WAS A BIG, A NUMBER OF BIG DISPUTES OVER THE, OVER THE CRIME CAMERAS THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED.

AND, UM, AT SOME POINT THERE WAS A, A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UM, BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION, UM, AND I THINK THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WAS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FROM, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT AND WHERE IT WENT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND, UM, UH, THE CITY MAYOR OFFICE AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS TAKING THE POSITION THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS CIVIL LITIGATION GOING ON, AND THERE WAS A PROTECTIVE ORDER, CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER OVER TRADE SECRETS, THAT THEY COULDN'T GIVE INFORMATION.

AND I WAS KIND OF BROUGHT INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO, TO TRY TO, TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

UM, AND, UH, UH, I SERVED AS AN EXPERT IN A NUMBER OF CASES, UM, ON GENERALLY ON ISSUES OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND, UM, WHETHER VARIOUS ETHICAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BREACHED BY VARIOUS ATTORNEYS.

THAT'S KIND OF A, A NUTSHELL THAT I THINK IS RELEVANT TO WHAT YOU GUYS MIGHT BE LOOKING AT.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS FRANK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

A A AGAIN, YOU, YOU'VE HEARD YOU'VE HEARD THE QUESTION.

I, I JUST WANT SOME ASSURANCE.

I DON'T WANNA SEND YOU IN HANDCUFFED OR HANDICAPPED BY ANY MEANS.

UH, UH, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU TO RESPECT THE OFFICE, DON'T TURN THE OFFICE OVER UNNECESSARILY AND, UM, THE, THE, THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF, OF THE OFFICER.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTION THAT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING OF, UM, THAT MIGHT COME UP, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED, UM, IN THE BPO SPILL LITIGATION WHEN THIS OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL WAS RETAINED IS, UM, NOT TO BE CRITICAL, BUT, UM, I GAINED A, A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR THE NOTION THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT IN AS INDEPENDENT COUNSEL OR SPECIAL COUNSEL, THEY SHOULD STICK TO THE ACTUAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE, THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO GIVE A RECOMMENDATION OR A DETERMINATION ON AND NOT GO INTO A FISHING EXPEDITION.

AND WHEN THEY ISSUE A REPORT, HE OR SHE SHOULD STICK TO THE ACTUAL ISSUES THAT HE OR SHE WAS ASKED TO LOOK INTO AND NOT COMMENT ON OTHER ISSUES.

UM, I SAW WHAT CAN HAPPEN, UM, ACTUALLY UNFOLD.

AND, UH, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

UH, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT CAUSED A LOT OF NEEDLESS TIME, MONEY, EFFORT, STRESS, EXPENSE, UM, TO BE WASTED ON COLLATERAL ISSUES THAT ARGUABLY WEREN'T RELEVANT.

BUT THAT, THAT, THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE, AND I HAVE A STRONG FEELING ABOUT THAT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE.

WELL, I'LL GO SECOND.

OKAY.

SO IT COULD BE THE FEET FAIR.

SO YOUR LEVEL OF COMFORT, YOUR LEVEL OF GETTING IN THERE AND ASKING THE QUESTIONS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO DO THE WORK, SHOULD YOU BE SELECTED? WHAT IS THAT LIKE? I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.

UM, I WOULD SAY THAT MOST OF MY EXPERIENCE IN QUESTIONING PEOPLE OF POWER OR AUTHORITY HAS BEEN MORE ON THE CORPORATE SIDE THAN ON THE GOVERNMENTAL SIDE.

UM, BUT I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.

UM, UH, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, MY WIFE WAS A CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE, UH, IN NEW ORLEANS PARISH FOR 14 YEARS,

[00:20:01]

SO I, I'VE DEALT WITH A LOT OF POLITICAL FOR POLITICIANS, POLITICAL OPERATIVES, ET CETERA, BUT ALMOST ALL IN ORLEANS PARISH.

UM, I'M NOT REALLY THAT FAMILIAR WITH, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

I MEAN, I MEAN THE JUDGES, BUT NOT FROM A POLITIC, FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, I'M NOT, BUT I HAVE A CERTAIN, I HAVE A CERTAIN COMFORT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, BEING WITH POLITICIANS.

I'M NOT, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M INTIMIDATED BY 'EM.

I DON'T, I DON'T GET STARSTRUCK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UM, NO OFFENSE TO ANY POLITICIANS, BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT GET STARTED.

THEY, THEY THINK POLITICIANS ARE LIKE CELEBRITIES.

I'VE NEVER REALLY FELT THAT WAY, BUT , FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THANK YOU, .

OKAY.

I'LL ASK MY TWO QUESTIONS.

UM, DOES A CANDIDATE HAVE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST? I DON'T BELIEVE I DO, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I, I HAD ALREADY DISCLOSED, UM, THAT, UH, FIRST OF ALL, MY DAUGHTER WORKS FOR THE JEFFERSON PARISH DA'S OFFICE.

UM, SHE'S A NEWBIE THERE.

SHE'S IN CHILD SUPPORT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT'S, SHE'S ACTUALLY EMPLOYED BY THE STATE AND NOT THE PARISH.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MATTERS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.

AND WHEN WE RAN A CONFLICTS CHECK FROM, UH, FISHMAN HAYGOOD, THERE WAS, UH, SOME REPRESENTATION OF THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS NOT REALLY PART OF THE PARISH.

IT'S A NONPROFIT.

UM, AND THAT IS ALL, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TRANSACTIONAL IT'S BUSINESS AND CORPORATE STUFF.

IT'S NOT LITIGATION, BUT IF THAT'S AN ISSUE, IT'S AN ISSUE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S OUT THERE.

UM, WE, UH, OR I SAY FISHMAN HAYGOOD, UH, HAD A CASE APPARENTLY FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

IT WAS 2018 TO 2020.

UM, I DON'T KNOW REALLY ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IT'S, IT WAS, IT'S, IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS LIT MEDIA.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, MAYBE BY, UM, THE NEWSPAPER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UM, IT, IT WAS, IT WAS ENDED IN 2020, AND THEN THERE IS A, SOME KIND OF CASE FOR THE HUMAN HEALTH SERVICE AUTHORITY OF JEFFERSON PARISH.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

I TRIED TO CALL THE PARTNER TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CASE, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE PARISH.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S KIND OF A QUASI, UM, PUBLIC ENTITY, AND IT'S NOT REALLY PART OF THE PARISH, BUT IF I'M WRONG, BUT THEN I'M WRONG, BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M AWARE OF.

THE LAST ONE THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHAT ARE THE DATES OF THAT? OR IS THAT ONGOING? IT, IT LOOKS FROM OUR PRINTOUT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ONGOING.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOPE.

NO.

OKAY.

SO, WERE YOU AWARE OF THE SITUATION PRIOR TO BEING CONTACTED BY MR. SULLIVAN? UH, THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

NOT AT ALL.

, I WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING, BUT WHATEVER.

THAT'S A, NO, I WASN'T AWARE OF IT AT ALL.

AND THEN WHAT SETS YOU APART AS THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION? WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I'M, YOU KNOW, BILLY'S VERY QUALIFIED.

UM, I'M SURE THIS OTHER ATTORNEYS FROM THE BATON ROUGE AREA IS VERY QUALIFIED.

I, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY COMPARE OR CONTRAST MYSELF WITH THEM.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, I THINK THAT I HAVE A REPUTATION OF, OF VERY GOOD REPUTATION WITHIN THE BAR AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE PROFESSION AND, AND HAVE GAINED HOPEFULLY, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, OF RESPECT, UM, IN THAT REGARD.

AND I THINK I HAVE A REPUTATION OF BEING, UM, VERY MEASURED AND VERY JUDICIOUS.

UM, AND, AND THE WAY THAT I GO ABOUT COMMENTING ON THINGS OR SPEAKING ON THINGS, OR WRITING ON THINGS, ET CETERA.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

AND, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I WILL NOTE THAT THE JEFFERSON PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS NOT UNDER JEFFERSON PARISH, NOR IS IT UNDER, UH, THE SUBJECT OF REVIEW BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

JUST FOR YOUR EDIFICATION.

IT IS A STATE OFFICE, AND, AND THOSE ARE ALL THE CANDIDATES WE HAVE.

AGAIN, THE CL SUVA FIRM WAS INITIALLY, UM, SELECTED AS ONE OF THREE CANDIDATES, BUT THEY COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.

THEY HAVE RE OFFERED TO BE AVAILABLE AT ANOTHER TIME.

UH, MY ONLY COMMENTS, AND I, I'VE MADE IT TO THEM AND I, I WANNA BE PUBLIC THAT I TOLD THEM, I'M TELLING YOU THE SAME THING.

UH, IN MY MIND, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, UH, AND THIS MATTER SHOULD NOT DELAY, UH, BEYOND MORE THAN WHAT IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE CANDIDATE SELECTED AND THE CANDIDATE BEGIN THEIR INVESTIGATION AND ULTIMATELY REACH A CONCLUSION BECAUSE OF THERE IS A CLOUD THAT HANGS OVER

[00:25:01]

UH, BUT I, I LEAVE THAT TO YOUR WISDOM AND JUDGMENT ON HOW YOU WISH TO PROCEED.

AND THE INTERVIEWS, UM, ARE OPEN MEETING AS WELL, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO, AND YOUR DECISION ULTIMATELY IS OPEN? YES.

OKAY.

UM, COMMISSIONER FEEDBACK ON THE THIRD, HOW TO PROCEED WITH THE THIRD, UM, CANDIDATE.

I'M INCLINED TO PROCEED WITH WHAT HAS SHOWN UP TONIGHT AND, UH, I AGREE WITH THAT.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? YEAH, I DON'T SEE WHY A DELAY.

I APPRECIATE THE TWO, AND I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION WITH THE THIRD, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME TO GET GOING.

YEAH.

THAT'S SORT OF SELF DISQUALIFYING FOR THE THIRD.

LET'S MOVE ON.

YEAH.

OKAY.

GREAT.

I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEANCE THERE.

OKAY.

NOW YOU JUST HAVE TO SELECT, SO YOU HAVE PROVIDED US WITH, UM, WITH A, A, A, A SCORING SHEET MM-HMM .

AGAIN, THAT SCORING SHEET, YOU CAN KEEP IT, IT WILL BECOME PART OF THE RECORD.

UM, AND EVERYBODY CAN SUBMIT THE SCORING SHEET TO THE CHAIR, AND THE CHAIR CAN TALLY THE DECISION AND MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU'D LIKE TO PROCEED.

OKAY.

I'LL GIVE YOU ALL A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE THAT ONCE COMPLETE.

I'M ALMOST DONE.

THAT'S FINE.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

MM-HMM .

OKAY.

JUST, DO YOU WANT ME JUST TO ANNOUNCE THE NAME? YEAH, JUST ANNOUNCE THE NAME.

YOU CAN.

OKAY.

UM, MR. HERMAN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT, UM, AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME IN AND EVEN SPEAK TO US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

A A AND AS WE PROCEED, WE WILL ENTER INTO AN ENGAGEMENT, UH, LETTER OR AGREEMENT WITH MR. HERMAN, AND WE'LL BE EXECUTED BY, UH, DR.

AKA AS THE CHAIR SETTING FORTH THE SCOPE OF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE SET FORTH EARLIER THIS EVENING.

AND THERE WILL BE A, A CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT THAT'S EXECUTED BOTH BETWEEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE, UM, INVESTIGATOR AND OUR OFFICE TO ENSURE, UH, BASED UPON STATE LAW THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS THAT THEY WILL BE REVIEWING.

BUT WE WILL BE VERY QUICK IN GETTING THAT DONE SO THE ENGAGEMENT CAN BEGIN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

AND, AND KIM, ARE YOU FINE WITH THAT? OKAY.

MR. HERMAN, ANY CLUE HOW LONG YOU THINK THIS WILL TAKE? UM, I'M NOT SURE THE, THE, THE COMPLETE SCOPE OF IT, AND IT, I, I GUESS IT DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE WILLINGNESS OF, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF PEOPLE THAT I WOULD NEED TO TALK TO.

UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DESIRE THAT IT BE DONE AS QUICKLY

[00:30:01]

UM, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND COMMISSION'S DESIRE THAT IT DONE BE DONE VERY QUICKLY.

DO YOU HAVE A, A GOAL, UM, WE ORDINARILY MEET EVERY TWO MONTHS, IS NEXT MEETING TWO WE LOVE BY MARCH, BUT IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

AND AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT ANYTHING YET, YEAH, I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

UM, UM, I, I, I WOULD, I WOULD, I, I I, I THINK I, I THINK TWO MONTHS IS DOABLE.

UNLESS, UNLESS THERE'S SOME UNFORESEEN DELAY OR UNCOOPERATIVENESS OR SOME KIND OF HICCUP THAT COMES UP TWO MONTHS I THINK WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME.

WELL, JERRY, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT IF WE CAN'T GET THIS DONE IN 60 DAYS AND IT'S DUE TO A DELAY THAT MR. HERMAN CAN CALL YOU? SO WE CAN ELIMINATE ANY ROADBLOCKS? MR. HERMAN CAN CALL ME AND, AND THE COUNT, THE COMMISSION WILL BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED.

AND IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING, UH, WE COULD DO THAT.

UH, I, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ROADBLOCKS.

HE DOES HAVE COMPLETE CARTE BLANCHE TO DO WHAT HE BELIEVES IS APPROPRIATE, UH, WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS FROM US.

AND I WOULD THINK THAT COOPERATION WILL BE FULL.

BUT IF, IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I THINK WE'LL KNOW FAIRLY QUICKLY AND, AND, AND I SHOULD CONTACT YOU IN TERMS OF ALL THE LOGISTICS AND EVERYTHING IF HE WOULD.

AND THEN WE'LL PREPARE AN AGREEMENT THAT THE CHAIR WILL EXECUTE WITH REGARD TO THE SCOPE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AND, UH, I HOPE TO DO A GOOD JOB AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU GUYS BETTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

AND I'LL JUST WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU, HUH? UH, IT'LL BE PROBABLY TOMORROW, IF THAT'S OKAY.

OKAY, GREAT.

OKAY.

YOU HAVE MY CELL, MY EMAIL, I'LL AND MY OFFICE NUMBER.

THANK YOU.

AVAILABLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PRESENTATION AND

[VI. Presentation and discussion of Inspector General Report, to include public discussion of any recently published reports, open letters, data, and statistics by the Office of Inspector General]

UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TIME LIMITATIONS TONIGHT, SO, UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO HURRY THROUGH AND BE BRIEF.

UM, IF I CAN CALL UP BRIAN SMITH.

WE HAVE TWO OGS IN THE OFFICE.

SO WE HAD TWO OGS.

UM, BRIAN AND I BOTH STARTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013.

UM, AND HE WAS THE BANK OF ALL GOOD WAR STORIES, DIFFICULT MOMENTS AND CHALLENGES THAT HAVE HIT THE OFFICE SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

UM, AND AFTER 10 PLUS YEARS, HE HAS CHOSEN TO RETIRE.

BUT, UM, I DID NOT WANT FOR HIM TO LEAVE.

HE ACTUALLY HAD HIS LAST DAY IN DECEMBER, AND I ASKED HIM TO COME TONIGHT BECAUSE I WISH FOR HIM TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION AND MORE THAN ANYTHING FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO HANG WITH THE OFFICE DURING ALL THESE TOUGH TIMES, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF TOUGH TIMES IN THIS JOB.

UM, AND HE HAS CLEARED AWAY ALL OF THE, UH, FRAMES THAT HE HAD HANGING IN HIS OFFICE.

AND I THOUGHT LIKE, LET'S GO CLUTTER THE CONDO WITH ONE MORE .

SO RYAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE, UM, GREATEST PRIVILEGES, PRIVILEGES AND HONORS OF MY LIFETIME TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

AND I THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND THE CITIZENS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND THE ECC FOR THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I HAVE ONE MORE FRAME, GREG.

HE'S STILL HERE.

COME ON UP.

ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.

I NEARLY TOLD HIM EARLIER.

UM, I GAVE THE FIRST OF THESE AWARDS, UM, THE SUPER AT ULTRA ABOVE AND BEYOND TO JEFFREY ADOLPH, MAYBE A YEAR WITHIN MY APPOINTMENT.

UM, BECAUSE HE TOOK ON SO MUCH.

UM, WE RUN WITH A SMALL STAFF, WE RUN WITH A, WITH A TIGHT BUDGET.

UM, HE STEPPED UP AND MADE HAPPEN ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, UM, KEPT UP WITH EVERYTHING, UM, LITERALLY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND.

UM, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THIS AWARD WITH GREG TONIGHT.

COME ON UP.

GREG IS THE OTHER LAWYER IN THE OFFICE, BUT HE FUNCTIONS AS AN AUDITOR.

UM, HE IS THE GUY WHO WORKS QUIETLY AND DILIGENTLY AND MANAGES TO DO SO MUCH, BUT I WANTED TO CALL HIM OUT BECAUSE NUMBER ONE,

[00:35:01]

UM, AND IT IS A BEAST, AND HE HAS TAKEN IT ON WITH DILIGENCE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, HE MANAGES TO REALLY RUN A RISK ASSESSMENT.

IT IS SUPERVISED, UM, BY OUR DEPUTY OVER AUDI, ERICA SMITH.

SHE PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE, BUT EVERY SETTING UP OF AN APPOINTMENT AND EVERY APPOINTMENT IN EVERY INTERVIEW, AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF ALL THE DATA FOR THAT RISK ASSESSMENT IS GREG LAMPARD.

HE WAS TAPPED WITH THAT UGLY JOB A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND HE CAN'T SHAKE IT.

BUT THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THIS LAWYER IS WORKING TOWARDS GETTING CERTIFIED AS AN INTERNAL AUDITOR, AND HE IS WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH.

HE HAS PASSED TWO SECTIONS.

HE'S PASSED TWO SECTIONS.

AND SO HE IS MANAGING ALL OF THIS, UM, ON TOP OF BEING A GREAT DAD, UM, AND AN OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, GREG, FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

UM, I WILL, UM, TRY TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF MY, UH, REPORTS AND JUST INVITE YOU TO, TO READ THE MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE.

SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT GOT SKIPPED OVER LAST YEAR, UM, INCLUDE, UM, THE ANNUAL WORK PLAN.

YOU KNOW, I USUALLY PRESENT THAT, UM, YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN COLOR COPIES PLENTY ENOUGH TIMES.

UH, THIS PLAN WAS PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER.

WE ARE NOW IN JANUARY.

IT'S NOT A THOUGHT, IT'S AN ACTION.

HERE WE GO.

SO, UM, YOU WILL SEE THE EXECUTION OF THAT WORK PLAN AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH 2025.

UM, HOWEVER, VERY IMPORTANTLY, UM, WE UNDERWENT PEER REVIEW.

EVERY THREE YEARS, THE OFFICE HAS TO UNDERGO A PEER REVIEW PROCESS.

UM, THERE IS A TEAM, WE HAVE NO INPUT OVER WHO IS ON THE TEAM, BUT THERE IS A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN FROM OTHER STATES, UM, INTO OUR OFFICES.

UH, YOU MIGHT FIND IT INTERESTING BECAUSE I EXPECT MR. HERMAN TO EXECUTE, UM, A SIMILAR DOCUMENT.

BUT THESE INDIVIDUALS EXECUTE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS BECAUSE WE OPEN UP THEIR FILES, OUR FILES TO THEM, UM, AND THEY GET TO PICK THROUGH THEM.

THEY GET PICK THROUGH OUR POLICIES, OUR PROCESSES, THEY GET TO INTERVIEW EVERYBODY IN THE OFFICE.

UM, AND THEY PICK A SAMPLE RANDOMLY OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND TEST OUR PUBLISHED PRODUCT, UM, AGAINST NATIONAL STANDARDS.

UM, WE HAD OUR PEER REVIEW COMPLETED THIS YEAR, UM, IN SEPTEMBER.

THE PROCESS INVOLVES A, UH, OPINION LETTER, UM, AND THE PROCESS, UH, ALLOWS FOR A MANAGEMENT LETTER.

UM, THE OFFICE HAS NEVER RECEIVED THE MANAGEMENT LETTER.

THIS IS OUR THIRD PEER REVIEW.

UM, BUT THE OPTION TO RECEIVE A MANAGEMENT LETTER WAS NOT CHOSEN.

I CHOSE TO GET THE MANAGEMENT LETTER.

YOU HAVE BOTH THE OPINION LETTER AND YOU HAVE THE MANAGEMENT LETTER.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARAMETERS, WHICH WITH THE APPROACH THE MANAGEMENT LETTER IS BOTH TO CALL OUT THINGS YOU'RE DOING WELL, UM, AND THINGS YOU CAN DO BETTER.

UM, AND SO WE ARE TAKING TO HEART, UM, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THEM.

UM, AND OF COURSE WE FIND COMFORT IN THE THINGS, UH, THAT WE DO WELL.

SO IT, UM, IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

IT ALWAYS IS.

SO THOSE MATERIALS ARE ALSO ATTACHED TO MY REPORT.

UM, IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, UM, THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CAME HERE FOR THEIR CONFERENCE.

WE HOSTED THAT CONFERENCE, UM, WITH THE, UH, NEW ORLEANS INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

AND SO THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN OUR OFFICE GOT TO GO, UM, TO THE CONFERENCE.

I ALWAYS EXTEND THE INVITATION TO EVERYBODY, BUT NOT EVERYBODY CHOOSES TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE OUT OF STATE, BUT THIS ONE WAS DOWNTOWN, AND SO WE ALL GOT TO GO.

UM, AND IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

UM, ALSO SOMETHING THAT WENT UNDER THE RADAR IS, UM, AND FOR THE, THE EDIFICATION OF THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, UM, THERE WAS A CALL IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS OFFICE THAT THIS OFFICE SHOULD HAVE A FULL-TIME PROGRAM OF INVESTIGATIONS, AUDIT AND EVALUATIONS.

THE OFFICE WAS ORIGINALLY STOOD UP WITH TWO DISTINCT SECTIONS.

UM, THAT'S AN AUDIT SECTION AND INVESTIGATION SECTION.

A THIRD SECTION FOR OUR EVALUATIONS, UH, WAS NOT STOOD UP.

UM, AND ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT I MADE AT MY APPOINTMENT IS THAT WE COULD MANAGE TO PRODUCE EVALUATIONS AS A PRODUCT.

UM, EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO STAND UP AN ENTIRE DEDICATED SECTION, I DON'T QUESTION THAT DECISION OR THAT COMMITMENT.

I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, THAT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, I'VE HAD TO TAKE THE INVESTIGATORS AND TURN THEM INTO EVALUATORS, THE AUDITORS TO TURN THEM INTO EVALUATORS.

AND WHAT IT HAS CAUSED INTERNALLY, PERSONALITY WISE, IS THAT INVESTIGATORS HAVE DISTINCT PERSONALITIES AND AUDITORS HAVE DISTINCT PERSONALITIES, AND THEY HAVE HAD TO CROSS OVER AND MESH INTO EACH OTHER'S

[00:40:01]

I WANT TO COMPLIMENT ALL OF THEM ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IT LITERALLY MEANS TAKING THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT SPACE AND THEIR STRENGTHS AND MAKING THEM STEP INTO WEAKNESSES AND GROW.

AND THEY ARE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, UM, IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE PRODUCED OUR FIRST EVALUATION REPORT.

SO, UM, THAT IS NOT A PRESENTATION, UM, THAT YOU'VE SEEN YET EITHER.

I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA DO IT TONIGHT FOR TIME CONSTRAINTS.

BUT THE POWERPOINT ON THAT, UM, DRUG EVALUATION, WHICH, UH, BRITTANY MAJEURE PRODUCED IS IN YOUR MATERIALS.

AND IT EVALUATED, UM, DRUG POLICIES BOTH WITHIN THE EAST BANK FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE WEST BANK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

AND, AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AT CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT THAT REPORT AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF IT.

WE HAVE UNDERWAY, UM, AN EVALUATION BEING DONE BY JIM MITCHELL ON THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT.

SO WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

IT IS A LEARNING CURVE TO FOLD THAT PRODUCT IN, BUT IT IS A CURVE THAT WE ARE MEETING AND PRODUCING.

UM, AND I WILL TURN THE TIME OVER TO MR. SULLIVAN, UH, TO DISCUSS THE EVENTS OF TODAY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO.

UH, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UM, UH, NO SHOCK TO ANY OF YOU.

THE LAST FOUR MONTHS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING.

UH, IT'S BEEN, UH, DISTRACTING.

IT'S BEEN ALL CONSUMING, UM, FOR ME, UM, FOR THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP.

AND I HAVE DONE MY VERY BEST TO, UM, TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY FOR THE STAFF AND TO INSULATE THEM FROM THE KIND OF POLITICAL PRESSURES THAT I HAVE BEEN FACING FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

UM, AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE PRODUCED OUR REPORTS FOR 2024.

YOU WILL SEE THEM SUMMARIZED IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT IN MARCH.

UM, WORK CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.

UM, WE HAVE A REPORT OUT IN DRAFT, AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OUT IN DRAFT THAT WAS RELEASED LATE LAST YEAR, SO THAT WILL GO PUBLIC BEFORE YOUR NEXT MEETING.

UM, AND WE HAVE OTHER WORK THAT'S MATURING ALONG, UM, INCLUDING GREG'S AUDIT OF, UM, EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE.

UM, WE LOST ANOTHER STAFF PERSON.

UM, SHE WAS NOT WITH US VERY LONG, HALEY LEVEL.

SHE WAS A, A NEW INCREDIBLE HIRE AS AN AUDITOR.

SHE WAS OFFERED A JOB AT DELOITTE TOUCHE AFTER GRADUATING.

UM, SHE WAS THE AUDITOR WORKING ON WEST BANK, UM, MEDICAL CENTER, UM, AUDIT.

SO ERICA SMITH IS FINISHING THAT UP.

SO DESPITE, UH, THE PRESSURES THAT WE'VE BEEN UNDER, THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE ARE CONTINUING TO PERFORM THEIR WORK.

AND I'M GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND THEN I'LL FOLLOW UP.

UM, MR. SULLIVAN'S COMMENTS, WHAT YOU, AND, AND THE REASON I I ASKED TO, TO SPEAK TO YOU DURING THIS PORTION OF THE, UH, REPORTING IS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED TODAY.

UH, THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED TODAY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PROPOSED AT THE DECEMBER MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, UM, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A HERCULEAN EFFORT ON THE PART OF MS. SHA LANE, UH, MS. BOHANNON AND MR. GERBERG PRIMARILY, UH, TO COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION THAT I THINK ULTIMATELY IS WORKABLE, REASONABLE.

AND I THINK, UH, HELPS.

AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR LAST YEAR, IF YOU RECALL, WAS SOME AMENDMENTS TO QUALIFICATIONS.

UH, VERY CANDIDLY, I WAS VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN I SAW THE DRAFT THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE, UH, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ITSELF ALLOWS FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF IT, IF HE IS A, OR SHE IS A BARRED ATTORNEY, TO SEEK APPOINTMENT WITH, SEEK CERTIFICATION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF APPOINTMENT, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, HAD A VERY CHILLING EFFECT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY APPLY AND QUALIFY AS CANDIDATES.

BECAUSE UNLESS YOU ARE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL, YOU DON'T GET TO BE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SO THIS IS A, THIS IS A, A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR, FOR THE COMMISSION, BIG STEP FORWARD FOR THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THE OTHER THING I, I, I'M INCREDIBLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON AND COUNCILMAN BERGEN AND KIM WERE ABLE TO RESOLVE IS WITH REGARD TO REPORTS, UH, LETTERS, UH, AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF, OF THE RE THE DRAFT PERIOD AFTER THE DRAFT IS ISSUED, THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE TIME IN WHICH THE RESPONSE IS GIVEN.

UH, IT CLARIFIES WHEN, UH, RESPONSES TO BE GIVEN AND WHEN AN ISSUE CAN BE MADE PUBLIC.

SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT BEHIND THE

[00:45:01]

BUT, UH, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE, THE GREAT EFFORT THAT NOT ONLY KIM DID, AND I WANNA POINT OUT, I ADMIRE BOTH HER AND THE COUNCIL PEOPLE INVOLVED, THAT THEY, THEY PUT A MOTION ASIDE AND THEY DECIDED SOMETHING THAT IS REASONABLE AND IS WORKABLE.

AND, AND WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

AND KUDOS TO KIM AND, AND TO COUNCILMAN BOHANNON.

AND COUNCILMAN BERG.

YEAH.

.

UM, LOOK, I'VE BEEN WITH THE OFFICE SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

UM, THE OFFICE WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD.

UM, WHEN THE COUNCIL TRIED TO PASS ORDINANCE CHANGES THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR ACCESS, UM, 2019, THEY CAME BACK AND AFFECTED CHANGES THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR ACCESS AND QUALIFICATIONS.

UM, AND 2024 AFFECT THE ABILITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR PUBLISHED WORKS.

UM, BUT FOR 2019, INCLUDING THIS MOMENT, UM, I THINK WE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THE MOMENT.

2019 STILL CREATED DAMAGE TO THE ORDINANCE, UM, DAMAGE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE OFFICE AND ITS ABILITY TO DO ITS JOB.

SOME OF THE REPAIRS, UM, SOME OF THE DAMAGE FROM 2019 WERE REPAIRED TODAY.

UM, THERE WAS, UM, A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WAS VERY SWEEPING, UM, VERY CONCERNING.

UM, INSPECTOR GENERAL FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WROTE, UM, TO THEM, UH, BGR COMMENTED ON THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

UM, AND ALL SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T ALLOW AN INSPECTOR GENERAL TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR PUBLISHED PRODUCTS, UM, THEY CAN'T DO THEIR JOB IN TERMS OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC, RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ACHIEVING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO.

WE ARE HERE TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING.

UM, THANKFULLY AND GRATEFULLY, THE COUNCIL DEFERRED ACTION ON THAT ORDINANCE IN DECEMBER, AND, UM, COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNON, COUNCILMAN LOBERG AND COUNCILMAN WALKER, UM, PERMITTED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM.

AND WE COULD HAVE IN COUNCILMAN BERG'S REMARKS TODAY, FRANK DISCUSSIONS LAY EVERYTHING OUT ON THE TABLE.

UM, AND I THINK ONCE WE GOT EVERYTHING OUT ON THE TABLE, I THINK PEOPLE COULD SEE MORE CLEARLY WHERE WE WERE ALIGNED AND WHERE WE DISAGREED.

UM, AND THEN IT WAS JUST DOWN TO MAKING SURE THAT THE WORDS REFLECTED OUR INTENTIONS, AND THAT TOOK SOME MORE EFFORT.

UM, AND KUDOS TO ACTUALLY, UH, COUNCILMAN BERG.

'CAUSE I THINK, AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN BOHANNAN, THEY GOT IN AND READ THE ORDINANCE, I THINK FROM A PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY OTHERWISE LOOKING AT AND COULD SEE HERE, LIKE THE REAL RAMIFICATIONS, UM, OF THOSE WORDS.

AND SO THAT CULMINATED WITH AMENDMENTS THAT WERE CONSIDERED, UH, BY THE COUNCIL TODAY AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, UM, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER, UM, CLEMENT WILL REMEMBER, UH, YOU KNOW, AND JERRY HAS DRIVEN AT HOME, WE HAD 30 WORKING DAYS, AND THEN IF IT INVOLVED AN OUTSIDE ENTITY ON TOP OF THAT 20 WORKING DAYS, WE LIKE 50 WORKING DAYS, WHICH REALLY MEANT A REALLY LONG TIME BEFORE OUR REPORT CAN BE PUBLISHED.

SO ALL OF THAT WAS SHRUNK DOWN TODAY TO 30 WORKING DAYS.

UM, SO WE GOT CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

UM, PUBLIC LETTERS WAS INCLUDED, UM, IN THAT PRODUCT.

UM, SO PUBLIC LETTERS WILL NOW HAVE A RESPONSE PERIOD, LIKE REPORTS.

SO THAT WAS ADDED INTO THE ORDINANCE WHERE IT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.

UM, AND AS MR. SULLIVAN CALLED OUT, THERE WERE CHANGES IN QUALIFICATIONS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU REALIZED IT OR NOT, LIKE AS OF TODAY OR BEFORE TODAY, UM, THERE WAS REALLY ONLY ONE PERSON IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WHO COULD HAVE APPLIED FOR THIS JOB, WHO MET THE QUALIFICATIONS, MEANING IF YOU WANTED TO REPLACE ME, YOU WERE REALLY STUCK HUSTLING FOR SOMEBODY OUTTA STATE TO COME IN, UM, WHO AGREED TO MOVE HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS TO TAKE THE JOB, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TERM LIMITS.

SO IT REALLY JUST DID NOT MAKE THE OFFICE APPEALING OR COMPETITIVE TO A PERSON WHO WAS QUALIFIED.

AND SOME OF THAT GOT REMEDIED TODAY.

SO I'M HAPPY WE ARE STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR, UM, ON THE RIGHT FOOT.