Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 13-368
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion request regarding Ms. Kim Williams the director of the "Healthy Start" for the City of New Orleans, may provide consulting work through her firm, Solutions for Better Living, L.L.C.
Facts:
Healthy Start is a program within the City of New Orleans Health Department. The purpose of Healthy Start is to reduce infant mortality in Orleans and portions of Jefferson Parish. It is Ms. Williams' duty to oversee the day to day operations for a federal grant program from the Health Resources and Service Administration for Healthy Start to the City of New Orleans Health Department. She provides oversight and community outreach, health education, case management and community partnership building to serve families with children under two in Orleans and five zip codes in Jefferson Parish.
Solutions for a Better Living is a full service consultation organization that provides a full range of services to health, education and social service organizations to improve their program and service outcomes. The company would like to host public relations events in Orleans and Jefferson Parish for clients which could include private fund raising, media outreach, or special events to raise awareness about other programs or services that may benefit these organizations. Solutions for Better Living provides consultation on strategic planning, program development, evaluation, and public relations to build capacity to reach their target populations.


Services are similar to work Ms. Williams' does at Health Start in that it is your role to oversee implementation of a program and some limited public relations and fund raising within Orleans and the five zip codes in Jefferson Parish to help build awareness about Healthy Start services. However, only the public relations and community outreach is similar. The organizations she wishes to work for with Solutions for a Better Living will be in no way related to the programs and operations of Healthy Start. One such example is a contract with the Denver-based non-profit Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office wherein Ms. Williams' business organizes community events and media to promote their service.

Law:
Section 1113A of the Code states that a public servant or a legal entity in which she has a controlling interest may not enter into a contract, subcontract, or other transaction under the supervision or jurisdiction of her agency.

Section 1111C(1)(a) states that a public servant shall not receive a thing of economic value for any nonpublic service the subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the public servant has participated.

Recommendations:
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.

Assigned Attorney: Brent Durham
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2013-368 Draft Advisory Opinion
2013-368- Advisory Opinion Request
2013-368 Follow up Email