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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> pF LOU1sr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> �eJ2`c` 9t.o�y9 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> °ONrioeNc� (225)219-5600 <br /> '••»o»-•' FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> April 6, 2023 <br /> Shanerika M. Flemings <br /> Clerk of Council <br /> 505 Travis Street (Suite 410) <br /> Shreveport, Louisiana 71101 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2023-138 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Ms. Flemings: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on April 5, 2023, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code")prohibits former <br /> Shreveport employee Tom Dark from serving as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the <br /> City of Shreveport. Additionally, you asked whether the CAO may be an independent contractor <br /> with the authority to supervise city departments and employees,approve contracts,and other duties <br /> as assigned by the Mayor? Further, you inquired if Mr. Dark can receive his City retirement and <br /> contract with the City to provide services. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You stated that Mr. Dark retired from the City of Shreveport as CAO fourteen years ago. He <br /> receives a retirement from the City of Shreveport. Tom Arceneaux was installed as the Mayor of <br /> Shreveport on December 31, 2022. The mayor entered a"professional services agreement"' with <br /> Tom Dark to provide interim consulting services as CAO for the City of Shreveport.The agreement <br /> notes that Tom Dark is an independent contractor and earns $14,000 per month. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:1121 A(1)No former agency head or elected official shall, for a period of two years <br /> following the termination of his public service as the head of such agency or as an elected public <br /> official serving in such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an <br /> appearance in connection with a transaction, involving that agency or render any service on a <br /> contractual basis to or for such agency. <br /> La. R.S. 42:1121 B(1)No former public employee shall, for a period of two years following the <br /> termination of his public employment,assist another person,for compensation, in a transaction,or <br /> in an appearance in connection with a transaction in which such former public employee <br /> participated at any time during his public employment and involving the governmental entity by <br /> which he was formerly employed, or for a period of two years following termination of his public <br /> employment, render, any service which such former public employee had rendered to the agency <br /> Page 1 of 2 (BD 2023-138) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />