Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 21-035
 
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RE:
Waiver request submitted by Betty S. Ward Cooper, Monroe City School Board / District 5 / Ouachita Parish, regarding a $2500 late fee assessed for filing her amended 2018 Tier 2 annual pfd 154 days late.
Facts:
Betty Ward-Cooper is requesting a waiver for the following reasons:

Mrs. Cooper stated she's a retired teacher, that wanted to serve her community. She's committed to helping the public school education foundation and has worked with others to increase the academic achievement for the school district. In her commitment to do her job well, she got overwhelmed and confused with some of our documents. Mrs. Cooper said "life got ahead of paperwork", but it was an honest mistake. She's filed all other PFD's timely and has been compliant each year; this being the only exception. She stated that all of the information reported is correct; it was just on the wrong form. Mrs. Cooper stated after a rigorous 2018 campaign, she was 'reeling'. During the time when the Amend Notice was issued, Mrs. Cooper stated the first few months of 2020 were extremely busy. In January 2020, she was sworn in as board president; she was preparing an agenda for the first board meeting, she was visiting schools as they reconvened after the New Year's break, and then Covid-19 hit mid March 2020. She humbly asks the Ethics Board to waive the $2500 assessment. This is Mrs. Coopers' first PFD Late Fee Assessment.

Comments:
TYPE OF REPORT: 2018 Tier 2 Annual Report - Amendment
ORIGINAL FILING DATE: May 15, 2019

DATE NOD RECEIVED: 1/27/2020 (personally signed green card)


DATE REPORT FILED: 7/8/2020
DAYS LATE FROM NOD:
154 days
DAYS LATE FROM ORIGINAL DUE DATE:
420 days
ASSESSED LATE FEE: $2500
PRIOR PFD LATE FEES:
None

OUTSTANDING CF LATE FEES: Yes

Waiver Request $480; $360, $120; Pmt. $220

OUTSTANDING DISCLOSURE REPORTS: None

PRIOR EXPERIENCE: has filed 6 reports or amendments

Law:
La. R.S. 42:1124.2 requires each person holding a public office who represents a voting district having a population of 5,000 or more persons to file an annual personal financial disclosure statement on or before May 15th of each year during which the person holds office and the year following termination of the holding of such office.

La. R.S. 42:1124.4 of the Code provides that upon discovery of the failure to file, failure to timely file, omission of information or inaccurate information, the Board shall notify the filer by sending him a notice of delinquency by certified mail. The notice of delinquency shall inform the person that the financial statement must be filed, or that the information must be disclosed or accurately disclosed, or that a written answer contesting the allegation of such failure, omission, or inaccuracy must be filed no later than seven (7) business days after receipt of the notice of delinquency.

Recommendations:
Suspend all based on future compliance with the Code of Ethics.
Assigned Attorney: Tracy Barker
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2021-035 - PFD Waiver Request Betty S. Ward Cooper