Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 12-050
 
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RE:
Whether Ms. Virginia Berry Green may accept an invitation to serve as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Special Works Board and be employed by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Facts:
Ms. Berry Green has been invited to be a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society's Special Works Board. Service on the board is strictly voluntary, and no payments or perks are received for the charitable work. Ms. Berry Green stated that she has been a church conference member of St. Vincent de Paul for over thirty-five years since she learned of the Society's work for needy families through her work as a caseworker.
She is currently employed by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as a Contracts/Grant Reviewer 4, where she provides contract and/or grant management services as described more fully in your job description. In a follow-up correspondence Ms. Berry Green stated that to her knowledge and over her seven years of experience in direct contracts negotiations, processing, monitoring and approvals, St. Vincent de Paul has not entered into any contracts with DCFS. Ms. Berry Green further stated that she would not expect any such transaction to occur. Finally, Ms. Berry Green mentioned that St. Vincent de Paul does receive pass through funds and/or benefits to serve the community from the City of Baton Rouge and the Food Bank. Both the City of Baton Rouge and the Food Bank have contracts with DCFS, however, Ms. Berry Green has no connections in decision making process for either of those transactions.

Law:
Section 1112B(3) of the Code states that no public servant shall not participate in a transaction involving her governmental entity if any person of which she is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee has a substantial economic interest.

Recommendations:
Decline to render an opinion for lack of standing.


Assigned Attorney: Brent Durham
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2012-050 (Berry Green -DCFS employee and StVdP Board - April)
2012-050- Advisory Opinion Request
2012-050 (Follow-up Correspondence)