| Advisory opinion request concerning the post-employment restrictions that apply to Deborah D. Keller, the former Director of the Port Development Division/Chief Engineer for the Port of New Orleans. |
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On January 1, 2015, Deborah D. Keller retired from the Port of New Orleans where she was employed for 27 years as the Director of the Port Development Division/Chief Engineer. After her retirement from the Port of New Orleans, she began private practice as majority owner and Chief Operating Officer of an engineering firm, Deborah D. Keller & Partners, LLC, offering her expertise in engineering, which entails many of the same services she provided while employed with the Port of New Orleans including performing traffic studies.
Ms. Keller is considering responding to a Request for Qualifications for engineering services issued by the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission ("NORPC") to perform a traffic study. The contract will be executed, administered and paid by NORPC.
However, the Port of New Orleans will enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with NORPC to fund $70,043 towards the cost of the study which would include the study of traffic conditions in the New Orleans downtown area affecting the New Orleans port. In addition, the Port of New Orleans is one of 46 stakeholders on NORPC's Transportation Policy Committee that reviews NORPC's staff recommendation to the board of NORPC for award of the contract.
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Section 1121B of the Ethics Code prohibits a former public employee, for a period of two years following the termination of his public employment, from assisting another person, for compensation, in a transaction involving the agency of the former public employee, in which the public employee participated at any time during his public employment.
Additionally, Section 1121B prohibits a former public employee, for a period of two years following the termination of his public employment, from rendering the same service which he rendered during his public employment on a contractual basis to, for, or on behalf of his former agency.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Jennifer Land |
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