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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> ��op Lopc�r9 DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> CONFIDE Nc� (225)219-5600 <br /> «o»•' FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> April 8, 2024 <br /> Stephen M. Whitlow <br /> Whitlow Law Firm, LLC <br /> 700 Main Street, Ste 301 <br /> Baton Rouge, LA 70802 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2023-968 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Whitlow: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on April 5, 2024, considered your advisory opinion <br /> request as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics("Code")permits BCB Architects, LLC to <br /> contract with the West Baton Rouge School Board while Matthew Daigrepont serves as a member <br /> of the West Baton Rouge School Board. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> BCB Architects, LLC ("BCB") is a licensed architectural firm that provides services to clients <br /> throughout the state, including state and local governments. Bradley C. Guerin is the sole owner <br /> of BCB. Mr. Guerin is also a 75% owner of Fusion Architects, A Professional Corporation <br /> ("Fusion"). <br /> Matthew Daigrepont is an elected member of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board. Mr. <br /> Daigrepont is also an architect employed by Fusion and is soon to be a 5% shareholder in Fusion. <br /> Mr. Daigrepont is not an employee, member, or shareholder of BCB. Mr. Daigrepont does not <br /> receive a salary, distributions, or any other compensation from BCB. Mr. Daigrepont does not <br /> have any authority or control of BCB. <br /> BCB desires to pursue future contracts with the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board("School <br /> Board"). BCB will not share any compensation or benefits received from any School Board <br /> contract with Fusion or Mr. Daigrepont. Mr. Daigrepont will not perform any work or render any <br /> services to or for BCB in connection with any School Board contract. <br /> BCB's question is: "If Mr. Daigrepont discloses a potential conflict and recuses himself from any <br /> discussion or vote on a potential contract between the School Board and BCB, may BCB enter <br /> into such contract without any violation of Louisiana ethics rules and regulations?" <br /> AGENCY <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a)(vi) defines "agency" for public servants of political subdivisions to mean <br /> the agency in which the public servant serves, except that for members of any governing authority <br /> Page 1 of 4(BD 2023-968) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />