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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> ,,OF LOr7 DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> ff LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> a. o; 1 P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> I BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> c°6p pe" o4 (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.la.gov <br /> February 21, 2017 <br /> David Ellis <br /> 1100 Rue Chinon <br /> Mandeville, LA 70471 <br /> Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2016-1203 <br /> Dear Mr. Ellis: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its February 17, 2017 meeting, considered your request <br /> for an advisory opinion regarding whether you, as an elected member of the Mandeville <br /> City Council (Council), can continue your employment with Arthur J. Gallagher & <br /> Company (Gallagher), at a time when it serves as the benefits consultant for STARC. If <br /> so, you asked for an advisory opinion regarding whether you may participate in the vote <br /> regarding the annual appropriation to STARC, at a time when Gallagher serves as its <br /> benefits consultant. You provided the following background information for <br /> consideration in connection with your request: <br /> You have been employed with Gallagher in its Benefit Services Division for more than <br /> five months as a salaried, non-commissioned insurance consultant. Your focus is <br /> primarily local - St. Tammany Parish (Parish) - regarding specific industry targets <br /> including public entities, nonprofit organizations, etc. Gallagher serves similar clients <br /> across the country, providing expertise and resources regarding analytics, human <br /> resources and compensation, employer-sponsored health and welfare plans, etc. <br /> Gallagher bills its clients on a commission basis, consulting fee, or a combination of <br /> both. Additionally, you own less than 1% of the shares of Gallagher stock. <br /> STARC of Louisiana, Inc., a private non-profit organization incorporated in 1968, <br /> provides day care services, work training services, respite and personal care services, and <br /> residential housing for residents of the Parish with mental retardation and/or <br /> developmental disabilities. STARC receives funding from the City of Mandeville (City), <br /> as well as an ad valorem tax from the Parish. The Council approves the total amount of <br /> grant funding available each year. Thereafter, STARC and other entities apply for a <br /> portion of the available funds, which is allocated by the City. As such, the individual <br /> funding requests are not included as line items in the budget considered by the Council. <br /> STARC intends to use Gallagher as its benefits consultant for their voluntary (work site <br /> and individual) insurance benefits, which will be paid through voluntary payroll <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />