| Request for an Advisory Opinion from Michelle Neil, legal counsel for Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government ("TPCG") (pop. 109,580) relative to approving a disqualification plan affecting Gregory Harding, an Athletics Program Coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, and his minor son, who would like to be hired as a Scorekeeper/Clock Operator. |
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Michelle Neil, legal counsel for TPCG, submitted this request for an advisory opinion and approval of a disqualification plan on behalf of Terrebonne Parish President Gordon E. Dove and Parks and Recreation Director Roddy Lerille.
TPCG would like to hire the minor son of Gregory Harding, an Athletics Program Coordinator, to work in the capacity of Scorekeeper/Clock Operator. Both the Athletics Program Coordinator position and the Scorekeeper/Clock Operator position fall under the Department of Parks and Recreation, of which Mr. Lerille serves as the Agency Head.
Mr. Harding is responsible for managing programs and employees assigned to the facilities on the west side of Terrebonne Parish and Christopher Singleton is responsible for managing programs and employees assigned to facilities on the east side of Terrebonne Parish.
In order to avoid any conflict involving Mr. Harding and his son, a disqualification plan was submitted whereby the TPCG intends to assign the son to work at facilities on the east side of the parish under the supervision of Mr. Singleton. Further, the TPCG established a protocol where Mr. Harding would have no supervisory control over his son and the son would be directed to refer any employment issues directly to Mr. Singleton. Mr. Harding would not conduct training for his son, shall not review, approve, or make recommendations to anyone in regards to his son's work schedule or pay rate. Mr. Harding's son shall not work events which Mr. Harding is assigned to supervise.
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La. R.S. 42:1119A prohibits a member of the immediate family of an agency head from being employed in his agency.
La. R.S. 42:1112B(1) states that no public servant shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any member of his immediate family has a substantial economic interest. La. R.S. 42:1112C allows a disqualification plan to be developed in accordance with rules adopted by the Board to remove a public servant from participating in transactions that would otherwise present violations of Section 1112 of the Code.
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Approve the proposed advisory opinion and approve the disqualification plan.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Greg Thibodeaux |
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