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[I. Call Commission meeting to order]
TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION MEETING.TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH, 2026.
IT'S 5:00 PM WE ARE ON THE ELMWOOD PARK BOULEVARD COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND TO CALL THE COMMISSION TO ORDER, I WOULD ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
UH, REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY 21ST OF THE 2026 MEETING.
[III. Review and approval of Minutes from the January 21, 2026 meeting]
ACCEPT THE MINUTES? UH, MOVE TO APPROVE AS IS.I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, AT THIS TIME WELCOME BILLY GIBBONS TO THE, UH, COMMISSION.
[IV. Public Comment (Each speaker will be allowed a total time limit of two [2] minutes)]
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? NONE.[V. Presentation and discussion of Inspector General Report and public discussion of any recently published reports, open letters, data, and statistics by the Office of Inspector General]
MOVE TO ITEM FIVE ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT.UH, INSPECTOR GENERAL CHAD LANE.
UM, JUST TO SET EXPECTATIONS, I'M GOING TO DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED TODAY.
UM, AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'LL HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY REGULAR, UM, MONTHLY REPORT BY MONTHLY REPORT FROM MARCH.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE DO HAVE ONE, UM, PRODUCT TO PRESENT, UM, AS A RESULT OF THE PLANET ADVISORY BOARD.
SO BEGINNING WITH THE ANNUAL REPORT, UM, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR NEW COMMISSIONER, UM, I HAVE OBLIGATIONS TWICE A YEAR.
UM, IN SEPTEMBER, I HAVE TO PRODUCE AND PUBLISH AN ANNUAL WORK PLAN THAT'S GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS I'M GOING TO DO THE NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN BY MARCH 31ST OF EVERY YEAR, I HAVE TO PUBLISH AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT TELLS YOU OF MY ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LAST YEAR.
SO THIS IS THE 2025 ANNUAL REPORT.
IT STARTS OUT THE SAME, UM, USUALLY EVERY YEAR WITH OUR VISION AND OUR MISSION.
UM, THIS IS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
WE OPERATE ON A BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION.
UM, OUR STAFF IS HIGHLY EDUCATED AND HIGHLY TRAINED.
UM, JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IN THE OFFICE NOT ONLY HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, BUT ALSO AN ADVANCED DEGREE.
UM, I HAVE, I HAVE MY LAW DEGREE OF COURSE.
UM, AND WE HAVE OUR LAWYER WHO ALSO HAD HIS LAW DEGREE, AND YET OUR AUDITOR ALSO HAS A LAW DEGREE.
SO, UM, OUR MANDATE IS OVER ALL OF PARISH GOVERNMENT PROPER.
SO WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR THE COURT SYSTEMS. UM, THE PARISH ASSETS ARE 4.9 BILLION, AND THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 3000 EMPLOYEES THAT FALL UNDER OUR JURISDICTION.
UM, WE ARE FUNDED BY AN INDEPENDENT MILLAGE, SO WE APPEAR ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX EVERY YEAR.
UM, THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT FOR AN AVERAGE HOUSE IS ABOUT $6 AND 25 CENTS A YEAR PAID FOR, UM, THE OFFICE TO BE SUPPORTED.
UM, THIS IS OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR BUDGET FROM 2025.
UM, NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE LARGEST COST IS PERSONNEL TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
UM, BUT ALSO BY WAY OF ORIENTATION, THE DEDICATED MILLAGE IS ONE THAT WE SHARE BETWEEN THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
SO EACH YEAR WHEN WE PREPARE OUR BUDGET, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION, AND THE COMMISSION ACTS ON IT, AND THEN IT'S SUBMITTED TO THE PARISH BY US.
UM, EACH YEAR WE PICK A THEME, AND THE THEME IS KIND OF LIKE IT'S COLLABORATIVE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE.
IT TRIES TO CAPTURE SORT OF LIKE WHAT THE LAST YEAR LOOKED LIKE.
UM, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS CLOSING THE LOOP FROM FINDINGS TO FIXES AND FACING OPPOSITION.
THIS THEME WAS MORE OR LESS CHOSEN BECAUSE, UM, WE GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC OFTENTIMES ABOUT OUR REPORTS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WELL, OUR JOB IS TO REPORT.
AND SO, UM, WE MAINTAIN DATA ACROSS ALL OF OUR FINDINGS FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE OFFICE'S LIFECYCLE.
UM, AND WE'RE AVERAGING, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK ABOUT NOT QUITE 60% OF OUR FINDINGS EVER ISSUED STILL REMAIN UNRESOLVED,
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WHICH MEANS THAT'S CODE FOR ONGOING RISK.UM, WE HAVE FACED CHALLENGES, UM, AND RESISTANCE TO, UM, OUR OVERSIGHT.
AND THAT'S SORT OF REFLECTED IN THIS THEME.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ARREST POWERS, BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
UM, AND THEN AS A RESULT OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, THERE HAVE BEEN WARRANTS ISSUED SINCE THE OFFICE WAS STOOD UP IN 2013.
UNDER OUR ORDINANCE, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REFER ANY MATTERS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES, UM, THAT WOULD HAVE LIKE ORIGINAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY, UM, THAT WOULD INCLUDE JPSO, THAT WOULD INCLUDE ANY FEDERAL AGENCIES.
UM, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE IN ANY STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES.
SO WE HAVE REFERRED 119 MATTERS OUT OUTSIDE AGENCIES SINCE THE OFFICE WAS STOOD UP.
UM, INTAKES OPENED SINCE THE OFFICE WAS STOOD UP, WAS SEVEN SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE.
UM, I THINK I'M GETTING MY NUMBER CORRECT.
I THINK WE, WE TOOK IN 85 INTAKES IN 2025, WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER 2024.
UM, THE IMPORT OF THIS IS THAT INTAKES IS WHAT GENERATES CASES.
INTAKES IS WHAT GENERATES INTEL.
THAT HELPS INFORM OUR RISK ASSESSMENT AND GUIDE SOME OF OUR DECISIONS REGARDING AUDITS AND EVALUATIONS.
THIS IS OUR SUMMARY OF FINDINGS TRACKER.
IT'S, UM, SHOWN ON OUR WEBSITE.
IT SHOWS YOU ALL THE FINDINGS THAT HAVE EVER COME OUT OF THE OFFICE.
THAT'S 332 SINCE 2013, AND BREAKS IT DOWN BY CONCERNS, OB OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS, AND THEN WITHIN THE FINDINGS, WHETHER THEY WERE POSITIVE, RESOLVED OR UNRESOLVED.
WE ALSO HAVE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE IDENTIFIED COSTS, UM, AND ANY QUESTION COSTS, UH, THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR REPORTS, INVESTIGATIONS, UH, FOLLOWS A CUSTOMARY PATTERN.
WE GET AN INTAKE INFORMATION, WE WILL DO A PRELIMINARY REVIEW, WHICH JUST AMOUNTS TO SCREENING THE INFORMATION.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO OPEN UP A CASE IF, IF THE INFORMATION CAN BE VALIDATED.
UM, SOMETIMES WE GET INFORMATION THAT WE DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER, AND SO THAT INTAKE IS CLOSED AND IMMEDIATELY REFERRED OUT.
AND THEN SOMETIMES AFTER WE DO A REVIEW, WE DECIDE THAT THE ALLEGATIONS CANNOT BE SUSTAINED.
SO WE HAVE 84 INTAKES OPEN IN 2025.
FROM THAT, WE OPENED FIVE CASES.
WE CLOSED FIVE CASES, UM, AND FOUR REPORTS WERE PUBLISHED, 18 REFERRALS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
WE HAVE, UM, THREE ONGOING AUDITS, TWO AUDITS THAT WERE CLOSED IN 2025 AND TWO REPORTS THAT WERE PUBLISHED.
SO OUR ONGOING AUDITS INCLUDE AN AUDIT OF JEFFERSON FACILITIES INC, WHICH IS THE ENTITY CONSTRUCTING THE BREW PUB, UM, IN GRETNA, AS WELL AS THE ENTITY, UM, THAT RENOVATED FIVE 19 HU EP LONG BUILDING.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN ONGOING AUDIT OF HOSPITAL SERVICES DISTRICT USE OF THE PROCEEDS.
SO THE PARISH GOT, UM, OVER 200 MILLION, UM, FROM LEASE PROCEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH WEST JEFFS LEASE.
UM, AND NOBODY HAS REALLY LOOKED AT AND SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC WHERE THAT MONEY HAS GONE.
UNDER EVALUATIONS, WE HAVE AN EVALUATION OF THIRD PARTY INSPECTIONS.
THAT IS WHEN THE PARISH DOES NOT PROVIDE AN INSPECTOR, AND A THIRD PARTY INSPECTOR IS PROVIDED TO INSPECTOR HOME THROUGH ITS VARIOUS PROCESSES OF PERMITTING.
UM, WE HAVE AN EVALUATION OF EAST BANK FIRE DEPARTMENT'S, SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT, UM, A REVIEW OF THE RENOVATION OF FIVE 19 HU EP LONG, WHICH WAS A HISTORICAL BUILDING, AND A REVIEW OF CAPITAL PROJECT PROCESSES FOR THE MULTI-USE BUILDING IN THE MULTI-USE BUILDING IS IN FACT THE BREW PUB, UM, TACO RESTAURANT AND GARAGES BEING BUILT IN GRETNA.
OUR REPORTS FOLLOW, UM, A SIMILAR PATTERN.
WE DO THREE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.
WE DO AUDITS, WE DO, UM, AND WHEN I SAY AUDITS, IT'S NOT FINANCIAL AUDITS.
IT'S PRIMARILY OF A PERFORMANCE AUDIT NATURE.
UH, WE DO INVESTIGATIONS, IT'S INVESTIGATIVE COURSE, AND WE DO EVALUATION REPORTS.
THE FOCUS OF THE EVALUATION REPORTS IS GOING TO BE EFFICIENCY EFFECTIVENESS.
REVIEWING PROGRAMS ARE THE PROGRAMS MEETING THEIR MISSION? REGARDLESS, THEY'RE ALL GONNA START THE SAME WAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASSIGNED TO STAFF.
UM, WE ARE REQUIRED TO PLAN, EVEN IF IT'S AN INVESTIGATION.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO PLAN, PREPARE A WRITTEN PLANNING MEMO.
UM, WE GO OUT AND DO FIELD WORK.
UM, THE FIELD WORK WOULD INCLUDE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE, COLLECTING RECORDS, ISSUING SURVEYS, THE LIKE, UM, THIS RESULTS IN A DRAFT REPORT AT THE TIME THE DRAFT REPORT IS COMPLETED.
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THE DRAFT REPORT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IS BASICALLY FINAL.AND THEN WE PROVIDE THE DRAFT REPORT TO THE EFFECTIVE SUBJECT OF THE FINDINGS OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEY HAVE 30 WORKING DAYS TO PICK AT THE DRAFT REPORT TO MEET WITH US.
IF WE GOT ANYTHING WRONG, THAT'S THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY IT.
THAT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT IT.
AND THEN THE REPORT IS FINALIZED AT THE TIME THAT THE REPORT IS FINALIZED.
UM, ALL MEMBERS OF THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION RECEIVE A COPY OF IT.
AND THEN IT IS ALSO POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS RECEIVE A COPY OF IT, AND ANYBODY WHO WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE FINDING WOULD ALSO RECEIVE IT JUST BY WAY OF LOGISTICS.
BUT FOR A NEW COMMISSIONER, SO REPORTS THAT WE ISSUED IN 2025, UM, WE ISSUED ONE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT THAT INVOLVED, UM, THE PARISH PAYING EMERGENCY PAY WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY.
UM, SO BASICALLY WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED IN, IN WHAT THE REPORT IS ABOUT IS OF THE 3000 EMPLOYEES IN THE PARISH, PREDOMINANTLY THEY ARE ALL CIVIL SERVICE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ONE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE TWO CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS. ONE IS FOR EVERYBODY, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS JUST FOR FIRE.
SO FIRE HAS TO HAVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.
AND THEN IN CONNECTION WITH THAT CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, THEY HAVE SEPARATE CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IS WE DID HAVE A DECLARED EMERGENCY EVENT.
UM, IT WAS A WINTER WEATHER EVENT, AND THERE WAS BACK AND FORTHNESS BETWEEN PAYROLL AND EAST BANK, CONSOLIDATED PAYROLL BEING, UM, WE DON'T PAY FIREMEN EMERGENCY PAY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH TO PAY THEM.
THERE WAS, THERE WAS COMMUNICATIONS BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY THERE WAS JUST A, JUST, JUST PAY THEM, JUST PAY THEM THE EMERGENCY PAY.
AND SO THE INVESTIGATION LOOKED INTO, NO, THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES DO NOT PROVIDE FOR EMERGENCY PAY FOR THE FIREMEN.
THEY COULD PROVIDE IT FOR IT, BUT THE FACT IS, IS THEY, THEY DON'T PROVIDE FOR IT.
AND SO THAT WAS THE SUM TOTAL OF THAT INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.
UM, WE ALSO ISSUED A REPORT ON MISCONDUCT BY JEFFERSON PARISH BUILDING MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL WAS, UM, HAD ISSUED A PARISH TRUCK AND HE WAS GOING INTO WORK, CLOCKING IN, GETTING IN THE TRUCK, GOING HOME FOR HOURS AT A TIME WITHOUT CLOCKING OUT.
UM, WE KNOW THAT HE WAS DOING THIS BECAUSE WE COULD OBSERVE HIM.
AND FOR THIS PARTICULAR MATTER, WE WERE PARTNERED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME WITH, UM, JPSO.
THIS INVESTIGATION IN THE CONDUCT NEVER DID MATURE FOR A FINDING THAT WE FIND OFTEN IN THE PARISH, WHICH IS A LACK OF CONTROLS, MEANING THEY WERE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CLOCK IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND CLOCK OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
BUT IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE NOT REQUIRING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO CLOCK IN AND OUT FOR LUNCH.
SO THEN THAT LEFT LIKE THE GAP OPEN.
OH, WELL, MAYBE HE WAS AT LUNCH OR MAYBE HE COMBINED HIS LUNCH WITH BREAKS.
LIKE YOU COULDN'T, YOU COULDN'T NAIL IT DOWN TO THE DEGREE YOU NEEDED TO NAIL IT DOWN TO ESCALATE IT.
SO HE WAS ALSO VIEWED, UM, USING THE TRUCK TO RUN ERRANDS, PICK UP FURNITURE, PICK UP APPLIANCES, MOVE THEM AROUND.
AND THIS INVOLVED, UM, ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THAT WAS UNDER HIS SUPERVISION.
SO THAT WAS ANOTHER INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ISSUED LEASE CONTRACTS FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE BUILT WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.
UM, WE ISSUED AN EVALUATION REPORT, UM, LOOKING AT THE TERMS OF THE LEASE BETWEEN JFI AND THE INTENDED LESSEES, THE PORT ORLEANS ENTITIES FOR THIS PARTICULAR, UH, REPORT, WE HIRED A COMMERCIAL LEASE EXPERT, IF YOU WILL RECALL.
UM, AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR STANDARDS THAT WE OPERATE ON.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT, WE'RE EXPECTED TO GO OUT AND FIND THAT EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT OUR FINDINGS.
WE ALSO ISSUED AN AUDIT OVER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS AUDIT WAS AN AUDIT OF OFF-DUTY INJURY CLAIMS. UM, AND SO UNDER STATE LAW, UM, IF A FIREMAN SUFFERS AN OFF-DUTY INJURY, IE HE FALLS OFF THE ROOF AT HIS HOUSE UNDER STATE LAW, WE MUST CONTINUE TO PAY HIM AS IF HE WAS WORKING.
SO IT'S LIKE A WORKERS' COMP CLAIM, BUT IT'S NOT A WORKERS' COMP CLAIM BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE YOU WERE WORKING.
UM, AND WE PAY THEM A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR PAY THAT'S REGULAR AND OVERTIME.
SO THAT'S AN OBLIGATION WE CAN'T AVOID.
BUT IT'S NOT AN OBLIGATION THAT WE CAN'T MANAGE BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE NOT ASKING HOW THEY GOT HURT
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OR WHAT THE NATURE OF THE INJURY WAS.IN FACT, FIREMEN WERE GOING OUT AND BEING PAID UNTIL THEY DECIDED TO COME BACK TO WORK.
UM, AND SO THERE WAS NO REAL INTERNAL CLAIMS PROCESS TO MANAGE THIS.
AND WHAT WE IDENTIFIED WAS THERE WAS OVER $3 MILLION PAID, UM, TO FIREMEN FOR OFF-DUTY INJURY CLAIMS WITHOUT SUFFICIENT MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT PORT.
THIS GOES BACK TO THE LEASE, UM, AND THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH AND LCMC FOR WEST JEFF HOSPITAL.
UM, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT, LCMC OWED CERTAIN CAPITAL COMMITMENTS TO THE PARISH.
THIS TRANSACTION IS MORE THAN A DECADE OLD, AND NOBODY HAD GONE IN AND VALIDATED WHETHER THEY HAD MET THEIR CAPITAL COMMITMENTS TO THE PARISH.
IF Y'ALL RECALL, WE HAD A POSITIVE FINDING THAT THEY DID IN FACT MEET THEIR CAPITAL COMMITMENTS AND WE BELIEVE EXCEEDED THEIR CAPITAL COMMITMENTS TO THE PARISH.
UM, WE ALSO HAD A FINDING SUSTAINED THAT THERE WAS AN UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD.
YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HEAR A BRIEFING ON THIS THIS EVENING.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE ISSUED, UM, A PUBLIC LETTER.
SO AGAIN, FOR, FOR OUR NEW COMMISSIONER, UM, OUR WORK, WHETHER IT'S INVESTIGATIONS AUDITS OR EVALUATIONS, IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE LOOKING BACKWARDS.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF LIKE AUTOPSY.
PUBLIC LETTERS ARE OUT THERE EITHER TO DELIVER TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC, SAY ON AN ISSUE THEY WOULDN'T OTHERWISE UNDERSTAND OR PERHAPS RAISE CONCERNS TO THE PARISH SO THAT THEY CAN PROACTIVELY ACT TO PREVENT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE.
THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC LETTER WAS ISSUED, UM, AT OR ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE PARISH COULD NOT FILE THEIR FINANCIALS TIMELY, MEANING LIKE WE WERE SEVERAL YEARS LATE IN FILING, AND THERE WAS LIKE, WE HOPE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FILED, BUT THEY WEREN'T FORTHCOMING.
WE KNOW NOW PROBABLY WE WILL BE LATE FOR CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN A ROW.
UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE LOST OUR BOND RATING, IER CREDIT RATING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT THE PUBLIC LETTER COVERED IS THAT WE ALSO HAD FEDERAL FUNDS FROZEN, WHICH WOULD NOT LIKELY HAVE MADE IT TO, UM, TO THE PUBLIC'S, UM, IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR PUBLIC LETTER, BRINGING TRANSPARENCY TO IT.
AND THERE HAD BEEN NARRATIVES PUT OUT IN THE PUBLIC FOR VARIOUS REASONS THAT WE HAD FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
WHAT THE PUBLIC LETTER GOT INTO IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF INSTABILITY GOING ON IN THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD GONE THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACCOUNTING DIRECTORS, SEVERAL DIFFERENT ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, AND THEN THERE WAS ONE PIVOTAL PERSON WHO WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE.
UM, AND WE HAD JUST NOT PREPARED FOR THAT PREDICTABLE RETIREMENT.
EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO DO A RISK ASSESSMENT TO PLAN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
A RISK ASSESSMENT, AS I SAID, IS PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, THAT RISK ASSESSMENT INVOLVES, UM, A CERTAIN PROCESS WHERE WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM THE PARISH DIRECTORS, UM, OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.
UM, IN 2025, WE DECLARED THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE.
UM, WE WANTING TO LOOK AT PARISH COUNCIL IMPROVEMENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BUILDING PERMITS, WHICH WE ARE, UM, AND CONSOLIDATED RECREATION.
AND A LOT OF THIS DOES, UM, RELATE BACK TO THE TIPS AND INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND TRANSPARENCY OURSELVES AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO IS MANIFESTED IN A BI-MONTHLY REPORT TO THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMISSION.
HERE IS MY REPORT AGAIN, JUST BY WAY OF ORIENTATION, THE OFFICES, YOU KNOW, STOOD UP SINCE 2013.
UM, IT WAS MY COMMITMENT AT APPOINTMENT IN 2022 THAT I WOULD TRY TO PRODUCE MONTHLY REPORTS WRITTEN FORM THAT HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN PRODUCED.
UM, AND THEN INCREMENTALLY, I GOT THE REPORTS TO BE A LITTLE BIT PRETTIER.
UM, ALL OF THE REPORTS SINCE MY APPOINTMENT IN 2022 ARE NOW POSTED ONLINE SO THAT ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN PICKING UP IN ANY ONE OF THESE REPORTS AND SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING IN 2022, THEY CAN ADDITIONALLY WE, EVERY YEAR WE DO A, UM, A ANNUAL REVIEW BY THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE OUR LATEST MEMBER WITH US THIS EVENING.
UM, SO THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF THREE PEOPLE.
ONE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION, ONE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL, ONE APPOINTED BY THE PARISH PRESIDENT, AND THEIR JOB IS EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO GO BACK OVER MY PREVIOUS REPORTS.
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AND IT'S KIND OF THEIR LAST LOOK TO SEE WERE THE REPORTS SUPPORTED? WERE THE REPORTS REASONABLE? WERE THEY WELL WRITTEN? WERE THEY WELL REASONED? UM, AND THEN THE PREVIOUS MEMBERS OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE WOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH ME, ASK ME QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OFFICE, QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.UM, THE FINDINGS TRACKER ITSELF, THAT TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE IS ACTUALLY AN OUTCROP OF CONVERSATIONS WITH EARLY MEMBERS OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, EVERY THREE YEARS, WE ARE SUBJECT TO PEER REVIEW.
THIS IS AN OUTSIDE GROUP THAT COMES IN, UM, AND WE TURN OVER OUR ENTIRE FILES TO THEM AND THEY PICK THROUGH THESE FILES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING NATIONAL STANDARDS.
UM, AND OUR NEXT PEER REVIEW WILL BE CONDUCTED IN 2027.
SO STORIES THAT CONNECT, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY HONORED TO RECEIVE, UM, A WATCHDOG AWARD BY A, UM, GROUP, THE HOME DEFENSE FOUNDATION, UM, IN 2025 AS WELL.
UH, I TRY TO MAKE AS MANY CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, BOTH IN THE EAST BANK AND THE WEST BANK, PARTICULARLY AT THE TIME THAT I'VE RECENTLY ISSUED A REPORT TO SORT OF BRING THE REPORT AND THAT INFORMATION TO THAT CIVIC ASSOCIATION, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND US AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS.
UM, I ACTUALLY SERVE AS A SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.
THAT IS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
UM, THAT'S THE ASSOCIATION UNDER WHICH WE, UM, WE SEEK OUR CERTIFICATION AND WE MAINTAIN OUR CERTIFICATION AS ABOUT 2025.
THAT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, UM, FALLS UNDER ME.
I'M ACTUALLY OVER MAKING SURE THAT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, UM, DOES THEIR CERTIFICATIONS CORRECTLY.
SO I TEACH, UM, AT THE CERTIFICATION TRAINING INSTITUTES.
I TEACH HISTORY OF INSPECTORS GENERAL.
I TEACH ETHICS, AND I THINK I'VE TAUGHT COGNITIVE BIAS.
SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT ARE TAUGHT THERE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY ANNUAL REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS? OKAY.
UM, OFF AND RUNNING TO OUR MARCH, 2026 REPORT.
UM, I WILL TRY TO, TO GO THROUGH IT.
A LOT OF IT IS GONNA BE VERY SIMILAR AND REFLECTIVE OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH IS OF COURSE ACCUMULATION OF THAT, WHICH HAPPENS ALL YEAR LONG.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION, UM, BY CONRAD, UM, ON OUR PLANNING ADVISORY.
BUT AT OUR LAST MEETING, UM, WE HAD BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND MAKING ASKS OF THE PARISH PRESIDENT, THE ADMINISTRATION FOR OUR ABILITY TO SEND OUT EMAILS, UM, ONCE EVERY QUARTER TO THE EMPLOYEES AS AN EDUCATION INITIATIVE.
AND WE WERE NOT GETTING A LOT OF COOPERATION OR SUPPORT IN THAT INITIATIVE.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU LAST MET, I BRIEFED YOU ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN AT THE END OF THAT BRIEFING, YOU ACTUALLY PASSED A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UM, SOME SUPPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THAT CONCEPT.
VERY SHORTLY AFTER THAT, UM, WE WERE INVITED TO MEET WITH THE PARISH PRESIDENT AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER STAFF.
UM, AND THEY PROVIDED US A TWO PAGE, A MEMORANDUM OF THE ASSORTMENT OF WAYS IN WHICH THEY WOULD SUPPORT GETTING THE WORD OUT TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE OFFICE AND HOW TO REPORT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE, YOU KNOW, GENERATING THOSE TIPS AND INTEL SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOB MORE EFFICIENTLY.
UM, IF YOU TOOK THE ELEVATOR UP, PLEASE NOTICE THERE IS A FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE SIGN.
UM, NOW IN THE ELEVATOR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT.
OUR OFFICE DOES THESE GRAPHICS IN A PROGRAM CALLED CANVA.
UM, THE PARISH ALSO USES CANVA.
SO, UM, ALL OF THE, MY PROPOSED, UH, GRAPHICS THAT I WAS HOPING WOULD GO OUT IN EMAILS I WAS ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.
THEY TOOK 'EM OVER, UM, AND MADE THE POSTER FOR THE ELEVATOR OUTSIDE.
THEY ALSO COMMITTED TO PUT THE POSTERS, UM, IN OTHER PARISH OFFICES.
WE ALSO RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO JEFF TALK, UM, THAT IS THE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER.
SO BRITTANY MAJEURE IN MY OFFICE WROTE THE FIRST ARTICLE FOR JEFF TALK.
SO WE ARE NOW INCLUDED IN THE JEFF TALK NEWSLETTER, UM, EXPLAINING WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE GET OUR JOB DONE.
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SET UP AN EMAIL UNDER WHICH THEY WILL PUSH OUT, UH, SOME NOTICES.SO WE, WE ARE IN ELEVATORS AND WE ARE IN THE NEWSLETTER.
AND JUST THIS WEEK WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE COME IN WITH A COMPLAINT WHO SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE THERE, BUT SHE SAW THE SIGN IN THE ELEVATOR.
SO IT'S VERY NOTICEABLE AND LOOKS GOOD.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, WHEN DO THEY EXPECT, OR YOU EXPECT THAT THE NEWSLETTERS WILL BE PUSHED OUT? UM, OUR, THE EMAILS, I SHOULD SAY.
YEAH, OUR DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS FEBRUARY 24TH, AND I THINK THEY GO OUT IN MARCH.
SO WHEN THEY DO, I'M GLAD TO LIKE, SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, LIKE, IT'S NOT, YOU CAN HAVE IT, BUT YEAH, IT GOES THROUGH OUR SYSTEM.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, JUST FOR EFFICIENCY OF TIME, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO CONRAD, IF THAT WORKS FOR Y'ALL.
I, I JUST WANT TO ADD, I ATTENDED THAT MEETING WITH MS. SHALAN AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
IT'S A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
UM, VERY PLEASED WITH THEIR WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE.
I THINK A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH YOUR RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, IT WAS, IT, I WAS VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH THE WILLINGNESS OF THE IT DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THE OFFICE, TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT, TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH EMPLOYEES.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT RESOLUTION, IT WAS VERY GOOD.
I, I GUESS THE PAPER MUST HAVE BEEN WRONG THIS MORNING, THEN KUDOS.
DIFFERENT STORY, DIFFERENT STORY.
UH, JUST TO COMMENT ON YOUR PRESENTATION, I THINK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO AN INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT JOB AND, AND, UH, PROFESSIONAL.
ONCE AGAIN, I'M CONRAD HUBER, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE J-P-O-I-G.
UH, TODAY I'M PRESENTING THE FINDINGS OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, UH, INVESTIGATION NUMBER 2025 DASH EIGHT, PUBLISHED ON NOVEMBER 22ND, 2025.
THIS REPORT ADDRESSES A CRITICAL ISSUE OF GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCE, THE APPOINTMENT OF UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO THE PARISH'S PLANNING AND ADVISORY BOARD, UH, FOR SHORT, PAB, WE INITIATED THIS INVESTIGATION PROACTIVELY FOLLOWING A ROUTINE INTERNAL REVIEW OF THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025.
UH, THE PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM IMMEDIATELY RAISED RED FLAGS FOR OUR OFFICE.
UH, AS THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM, UH, WE INVESTIGATED AND ISSUED A REPORT ON A NEARLY IDENTICAL ISSUE, UH, BACK IN MAY OF 2019, REPORT NUMBER 2018 DASH 28, WHERE A MEMBER NAMED KIRK EY WAS APPOINTED DESPITE NOT BEING A RESIDENT OR QUALIFIED VOTER, THE RECURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE NECESSITATED IMMEDIATE SCRUTINY.
UH, TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT ON THE BOARD ITSELF, THE PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD IS COMPOSED OF SEVEN MEMBERS WITH EACH PARISH COUNCIL MEMBER, APPOINTING ONE REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE A FOUR YEAR TERM THAT RUNS CONCURRENTLY WITH THE COUNCIL PERSON'S TERM.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE SCOPE OF THIS BOARD.
MEMBERS RECEIVE A $150 PER DIEM PER MEETING AND CAN MEET UP TO 52 TIMES PER YEAR, AMOUNTING TO A $7,800 ANNUAL STIPEND.
THEY ALSO OVERSEE A BUDGETED EXPENDITURE OF $231,000, WHICH INCLUDES TWO FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS.
THE FLOW CHART YOU'LL SEE BEFORE YOU ILLUSTRATES WHY THE PABS INTEGRITY IS SO VITAL.
THEY REVIEW ALL LAND USE ISSUES AFFECTING UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
THEY HANDLE LAND DESIGNATIONS LIKE ZONING, LAND DIVISIONS, AND SUBDIVISIONS AND DEVELOPMENT CODES.
CAN I, CAN I INTERRUPT FOR JUST A SECOND? MOST CERTAINLY.
UH, THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE STIPEND MM-HMM
IS THAT WRITTEN? IT'S, IT'S IN THIS, YEAH.
IT IS NOT WITHIN THE POWERPOINT.
UH, THEY CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MAKE DIRECT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THEIR WORK PHYSICALLY SHAPES THE FUTURE LAYOUT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARISH.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS HOLDING THESE SEATS MEET THE LEGAL STANDARDS REQUIRED TO SERVE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE GRA I APOLOGIZE.
UM, BECAUSE OF THE GRAVITY OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE JEFFERSON PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCE, SPECIFICALLY SECTION 33 DASH 1.22, OUTLINE STRICT QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERS AT THE TIME OF THE EVENTS IN QUESTION.
UH, EACH MEMBER WAS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE A RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH, A QUALIFIED VOTER OF THE PARISH, AND AS HIGHLIGHTED IN SUBSECTION C, UH, THEY WERE EXPRESSLY
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REQUIRED TO OWN PROPERTY IN JEFFERSON PARISH.OUR CORE ALLEGATION FOR THIS INVESTIGATION WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THE PARISH COUNSEL APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF A PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER WHO LACKED THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AFTER A THOROUGH VIEW OF THE FACTS, THIS ALLEGATION WAS SUSTAINED.
UH, HERE IS EXACTLY HOW THIS UNFOLDED.
AGENDA ITEM 81 ORIGINALLY PROPOSED APPOINTING A MAN NAMED GERARD JACKSON TO REPRESENT DISTRICT THREE, NOMINATED BY COUNCILMAN BYRON LEE ON SEPTEMBER THE 16TH.
THE DAY BEFORE THE VOTE, OUR OFFICE SENT A FORMAL LETTER TO COUNCILMAN LEE, WARNING HIM THAT A PUBLIC RECORD SEARCH INDICATED THAT MR. JACKSON DID NOT OWN PROPERTY WITHIN THE PARISH, RENDERING HIM INELIGIBLE.
WE RECOMMENDED HE DEFER THE VOTE AND BEAR WITH ME AS I CLICK THROUGH SOME OF THESE SLIDES.
UH, INSTEAD OF PAUSING TO PROPERLY VET NOMINEES, THE RESOLUTION WAS SIMPLY AMENDED ON THE FLOOR DURING THE SEPTEMBER 17TH MEETING TO SUBSTITUTE A NEW NOMINEE, MR. SIMEON DICKERSON.
FOLLOWING THAT FLOOR AMENDMENT, THE COUNCIL PROCEEDED TO VOTE ON A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LEE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WALKER.
THE COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY SEVEN TO ZERO TO APPROVE MR. DICKERSON'S APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD.
THEY COMPLETELY BYPASSED ANY VETTING OF THE NEWLY SUBSTITUTED INDIVIDUAL.
OUR SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SUBSTITUTE NOMINEE MR. DICKERSON, ALSO FAILED TO MEET THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT.
THIS LED TO TWO PRIMARY FINDINGS.
FIRST, COUNCILMAN BYRON LEE NOMINATED UNQUALIFIED PERSONS FOR MEMBERSHIP, DISREGARDING THE EXPLICIT WRITTEN NOTICE PROVIDED BY OUR OFFICE THE DAY PRIOR.
SECOND, THE PARISH COUNCIL ACTING COLLECTIVELY APPOINTED AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON FAILING TO ENSURE THE LEGAL STANDARDS WERE MET BEFORE CASTING THEIR VOTES.
UH, THIS WAS A CLEAR BREAKDOWN OF GOVERNANCE AND STEWARDSHIP.
TO CONFIRM OUR PUBLIC RECORDS SEARCH, OUR INVESTIGATORS REACHED OUT DIRECTLY TO MR. DICKERSON.
MR. DICKERSON WAS FULLY COOPERATIVE AND COMPLETELY HONEST.
WHEN ASKED IF HE OWNED PROPERTY IN THE PARISH, HE EXPLICITLY STATED HE DID NOT OWN PROPERTY BUT LIVED IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT APPEARED HE WAS SIMPLY UNAWARE THAT HE DID NOT MEET THE LEGAL CRITERIA TO SERVE, TO CORRECT THIS IMMEDIATE VIOLATION.
WE RECOMMENDED THAT MR. DICKERSON BE REPLACED WITH A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, AND THAT AN INQUIRY BE CONDUCTED INTO THE REMAINING PAB MEMBERS TO ENSURE, TO ENSURE COMPLETE COMPLIANCE ACROSS THE BOARD.
FURTHERMORE, WE RECOMMENDED THAT THE PARISH ESTABLISH A FIRM POLICY TO ENSURE COUNCIL NOMINEES ARE PROPERLY VETTED PRIOR TO A COUNCIL VOTE.
BECAUSE THIS IS A REPEAT OFFENSE.
WE ALSO FORMALLY REER THE SYSTEMATIC RECOMMENDATIONS OUR OFFICE MADE BACK IN 2019.
WE RECOMMENDED THAT NO BOARD MEMBER BE VOTED UPON UNTIL ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTS ARE OFFICIALLY VALIDATED.
WE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THIS PROCESS BE CODIFIED AS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A SPECIFIC ENTITY SUCH AS THE PARISH ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER.
THE COUNCIL CHIEF OF STAFF ARE THE COUNCIL CLERK.
I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE PARISH RESPONDED SWIFTLY TO OUR DRAFT REPORT ON OCTOBER THE 10TH.
AFTER RECEIVING OUR REPORT ON OCTOBER THE NINTH, THE COUNCIL ISSUED THIS JOINT LETTER STATING THAT TO CURTAIL FUTURE UNQUALIFIED APPOINTMENTS, THEY WERE OFFICIALLY DIRECTING THE RESEARCH AND BUDGET ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW AND VET ALL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS MOVING FORWARD.
WHILE THE CODIFICATION OF THIS VETTING PROCESS IS STILL NECESSARY, UH, THIS WAS CERTAINLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE PARISH TOOK AN ADDITIONAL STEP ON DECEMBER THE 10TH, PASSING AN ORDINANCE THAT OFFICIALLY REMOVED THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT ENTIRELY FROM THE CODE.
UH, I WANNA PAUSE HERE AND SHARE AN IMPORTANT ANECDOTE REGARDING THIS CHANGE.
FOLLOWING THIS INVESTIGATION, OUR OFFICE BEGAN DRAFTING A PUBLIC LETTER EXAMINING THE ACTUAL CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT ITSELF.
UH, WE FOUND THAT HISTORICALLY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAS STRUCK DOWN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT BOARDS VIEWING THEM AS A FORM OF WEALTH BASED DISCRIMINATION.
WE NOTED IN OUR VIEW THAT PLANNING DECISIONS LIKE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, ZONING, AND TRANSIT AFFECT RENTERS JUST AS DEEPLY AS PROPERTY OWNERS.
FURTHERMORE, JUST AS ZONING, A DEED DOES NOT INHERENTLY GRANT SOMEONE EXPERTISE IN URBAN PLANNING, WE SENT THE COUNCIL OUR PUBLIC LETTER IN DRAFT, RECOMMENDING ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASED CRITERIA ON DECEMBER THE FIFTH OF 2025.
WHILE THE COUNCIL WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT TO REMOVE THE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROBLEMATIC REQUIREMENT, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THEY IGNORED OUR RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT TO
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REPLACE IT WITH.WE RECOMMENDING ESTABLISHING A NEUTRAL COMPETENCY BASED QUALIFICATION, SUCH AS DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE OF LAND USE CODES, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, OR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.
INSTEAD, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THEY SIMPLY STRUCK DOWN THE RULE AND LEFT IT BLANK, CHOOSING TO FOREGO A KNOWLEDGE BASED CRITERIA IN CONCLUSION, WHILE THE DECEMBER LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT EFFECTIVELY RESOLVES THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP DEFICIENCY FOR MR. DICKERSON AND OTHERS MOVING FORWARD, IT DOES NOT ERASE THE FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT.
THE APPOINTMENT ON SEPTEMBER THE 17TH WAS MADE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES THAT WERE IN EFFECT AT THE SAME, AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.
APPOINTMENTS MUST STRICTLY ADHERE AN EXISTING LAW UNTIL THOSE LAWS ARE FORMALLY AMENDED.
UH, AND THERE SHOULD BE RULES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THAT OCCURS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION IN YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT, COMMITMENT TO THE PARISH'S INTEGRITY.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER TO 'EM.
WHERE ARE WE TODAY WITH THIS? WHERE ARE WE TODAY WITH THAT, THAT POSITION WITH, UH, THE POSITION PAPER? UH, THE, THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED.
UH, IT REMAINED FILLED BY MR. DICKERSON.
UH, I DON'T SEE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, MS. CHAD LANE, UH, DISCUSSION
[VI. Discussion regarding the Parish Council appointment selection for the Quality Assurance Review Committee]
REGARDING NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS NUMBER SIX, DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PARISH COUNCIL APPOINTMENT SELECTION FOR THE QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.BEFORE I DISCUSS THAT, IF I CAN, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE COMMISSION'S APPOINTEE, KYLE HANUS, WHO IS IN THE ROOM.
I'D LIKE HIM TO COME INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
HE IS A, A VERY WELL RESPECTED ATTORNEY.
UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA SAY HOW MANY YEARS, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
AND, UH, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HIM.
HE IS TAKING MR. LATIN'S POSITION WHO SERVED FOR MANY YEARS SINCE THE COMMISSION'S ORIGINATION UNTIL THIS YEAR.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. HONUS FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
I WOULD WITHHOLD THANKS UNTIL YOU SEE, SEE MY SERVICE.
I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW FOR, UH, MORE YEARS THAN I'D LIKE TO ADMIT.
UH, WAS, UH, LIVED IN HARAHAN MOST OF MY LIFE AND, UH, LIVE IN MET CURRENTLY.
AND, UH, I'M WELCOMING THE CHANCE TO, UH, GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE HEARD YOUR NAME OVER THE YEARS AS WELL AS MR. GIBBONS.
YOU ALL ARE BOTH VERY RESPECTED ATTORNEYS.
UH, AS TO THE PARISH COUNCIL'S APPOINTMENT, THE, UH, COUNCIL CHAIR HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ATTEMPTING TO SECURE THEIR APPOINTMENT.
JOHN BENZ WAS THE COUNCIL'S APPOINTMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE COUNCIL APPOINTMENT IS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, UH, I REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE THAT THE COUNCIL CHAIR HAD SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THAT APPOINTMENT.
HOWEVER, THAT PERSON DECLINED, RECOGNIZING THAT THEY WERE THE CHAIR.
THEY ARE NOW RETIRED, A RETIRED ATTORNEY, AND DID NOT WANT TO UNDERTAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, IN SPEAKING WITH THE CHAIR, I DO BELIEVE THAT ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IS GOING ON.
SO HOPEFULLY BY THE NEXT MEETING, THERE WILL BE AN APPOINTEE FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL AND THAT WILL COMPLETE THE APPOINTMENTS.
DUKE MCCONNELL IS STILL THE APPOINTEE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO WHEN THE THIRD APPOINTEE IS MAY IS NOMINATED AND A AND CONFIRMED BY THE COUNSEL, THE COM THE COMMITTEE WILL BE COMPLETE.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THE REPORT WILL NOT BE ISSUED PRIOR TO MAY 31ST BASED UPON THE APPOINTMENT TIMING.
BUT AS SOON AS THE, UH, REPORT IS ISSUED AND PREPARED, HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE DISSEMINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ANY MORE ON, UH, NUMBER SIX, MR. SOLOMON? NO, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
SO, UH, AT THIS TIME I WOULD ENTERTAIN
[VII. Executive Session to consider the following topics: A). Confidential Consideration of possible ethical violations, and; B). Review of Inspector General performance and evaluation]
A MOTION TO MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER, UH, THE TWO TOPICS THAT ARE ON YOUR AGENDA, BOTH A AND B CONFIDENTIAL CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ETHICAL VIOLATION AND REVIEW OF INSPECTOR GENERAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION.UH, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? GINA? YES, PLEASE.
WE'RE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
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Y'ALL TO COME IN FOR THE FIRST TWO DISCUSSIONS AND THEN MOVE.IT IS 6:41 PM I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, REENTER A REGULAR SESSION.
I MOVE THAT WE REENTER REGULAR SESSION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WENT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH REGARD TO ETHICAL VIOLATION.
THE FIRST WAS ITEM NUMBER 26 0 0 2, CORRECT.
THE COMMISSION HAS DECIDED TO REFER THAT, BUT WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON IT.
UH, YEAH, WE'LL NEED A MOTION.
I MOVED TO REFER ITEM 2 6 0 0 2.
SO, UH, REFER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? YES, I SECOND.
BILLY GIBBONS? YES, IT'S UNANIMOUS.
AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM IS 26 0 0 3 THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE, THE COMMISSION? YES.
AND THE COMMISSION HAS, UH, DECIDED TO DEFER THAT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH I BELIEVE IS MAY 20TH.
AND, UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER? YES, I MOVE TO DEFER 2 6 0 0 3 TO THE NEXT MEETING.
THE FINAL MATTER THAT WAS DONE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS JUST THE REVIEW OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION, WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC RECORDS DISCLOSURE OR REVIEW.
OTHER THAN THAT, SHE RETAINS HER OFFICE AT THIS TIME.
MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS NEW BUSINESS.
I'LL MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER NINE ON
[IX. Next Meeting Date: May 20, 2026]
THE AGENDA.THE NEXT MEETING IS MAY 20TH, 2026.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING BEFORE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN? WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THEIR RECORD? NO.