2023-882 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ethics Board Docket No. 2023-882 Page 6 of 9 include, in addition to an amount equal to such economic advantage, penalties not to exceed one half of the amount of the economic advantage. V. OPINION: It is the opinion of the BOE that Baja Enterprises of Lockport LLC, a legal entity in which Mr. Autin had a controlling interest, violated La. R.S. 42:1113A(1)(a) by virtue of entering into transactions under the supervision of Mr. Autin's agency, the LVFC. Section l l l3A(1)(a) of the Ethics Code prohibits a public servant, a member of such public servant's immediate family, or a legal entity in which such public servant has a controlling interest from bidding on or entering into any contract, subcontract, or transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of such public servant's agency. Mr. Autin, in his capacity as Fire Chief of the LVFC, is a public employee pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(18)(a)(iii) and a public servant pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(19) because he is engaged in performing the governmental function of fire protection for Fire District 2. As Fire Chief, Mr. Autin's agency is the LVFC pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(2)(a), and he is an agency head of the LVFC pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(3). Furthermore, Mr. Autin has a controlling interest in Baja Enterprises of Lockport LLC, pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(8) because his ownership interest in the legal entity exceeds twenty-five percent. Therefore, based on the foregoing facts, Baja Enterprises of Lockport LLC violated Section 1113A(1)(a) of the Ethics Code by entering into transactions with the LVFC while Mr.Autin served as the LVFC Fire Chief. If this matter proceeded to a public hearing before the Ethics Adjudicatory Board, and the Ethics Adjudicatory Board found a violation of the Ethics Code, the Ethics Adjudicatory Board could impose a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation of the Ethics Code, pursuant to La. R.S.