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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> Wp4'Lob�sr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> r ( 9 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> 2 <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> (225)219-5600 <br /> nno�^ <br /> FAX;(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.]a.gov <br /> January 9, 2024 <br /> Irma Bickham <br /> Office Manager <br /> Rural Franklinton Water Corporation <br /> 422 11 t"Avenue <br /> Franklinton, Louisiana 70438 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2023-995 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Ms. Bickham: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on January 5, 2024, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion on behalf of the Rural Franklinton Water Corporation as to whether the Code of <br /> Governmental Ethics ("Code") prohibits it from receiving funding from the Washington Parish <br /> Council. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> Reginald McMasters has served as an elected member of the Washington Parish Council since <br /> 2016. He was recently re-elected and will begin a new term, which will end on January 10, 2028. <br /> Mr. McMasters also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Rural Franklinton Water <br /> Corporation("Water Corp."). While Mr. McMasters has no ownership interest in the Water Corp., <br /> he does receive compensation for his services on the Water Corp.'s Board of Directors. <br /> Water Corp. would like to apply for and receive funding from the Washington Parish Government. <br /> You stated that Mr. McMasters will not be the person requesting funding on behalf of the Water <br /> Corp., as Lenward Thompson has been designated to handle all necessary paperwork. You further <br /> stated that Mr. McMasters will not participate in the approval of the funding. <br /> AGENCY <br /> La. R.S. 42:1102(19) defines "public servant as a public employee or an elected official. La. R.S. <br /> 42:1102(9) defines "elected official" as any person holding an office in a governmental entity <br /> which if filled by the vote of the appropriate electorate.As an elected member of the Washington <br /> Parish Council, Reginald McMasters is a public servant pursuant to La. R.S. 42:1102(19). <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 /> and for the elected or appointed chief executive of a governmental entity, it shall mean the <br /> Page 1 of 4 (BD 2023-995) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />