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Waiver request submitted by Joseph S. Difatta, Jr., a member of the St. Bernard Parish Housing Redevelopment and Quality of Life Commission, regarding a $1500 late fee assessed for filing his 2019 Tier 2.1 annual pfd 252 days late. |
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Joseph "Joe" Difatta, Jr., stated he filed his report late due to illness associated with Covid-19, which lingered for several months in 2020. At the age of 66, he was "quite disoriented," and it took a long period for him to recover from the virus. Once he learned he was delinquent, he filed the missing disclosure. The commission was formed as a result of the devastation to the parish from Hurricane Katrina. The commission does not have a budget nor spends public funds, members do not receive any compensation or reimbursements, and members serve in the spirit of public service. Since being appointed to the commission, Mr. Difatta said he always filed his required reports as it was never his intent to circumvent the requirement to file the 2019 report on a timely basis. He asks the Ethics Board to waive his fine.
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TYPE OF REPORT: 2019 Tier 2.1 Annual Report
ORIGINAL FILING DATE: July 6, 2020
DATE NOD RECEIVED: 06/16/2021 (Covid)
DATE REPORT FILED: 03/04/2022
DAYS LATE FROM NOD: 252 days
DAYS LATE FROM ORIGINAL DUE DATE: 606 days
ASSESSED LATE FEE: $1500
PRIOR/OUTSTANDING PFD LATE FEES: None
PRIOR/OUTSTANDING CF LATE FEES: None
OUTSTANDING DISCLOSURE REPORTS: None
PRIOR EXPERIENCE: Been filing since 2013
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La. R.S. 42:1124.2.1
requires financial disclosure for each member and designee of a board or commission which has the authority to expend, disburse or invest $10,000 or more of funds in a fiscal year 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.
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Suspend all based on future compliance with the Code of Ethics.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Tracy Barker |
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