| Advisory Opinion request regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics prohibits a former member of the Slidell City Council from being employed by the Office of
the Mayor of the City of Slidell. |
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The
current Slidell City Council consists of the following members: Leslie Denham, David Dunham, Megan Haggerty, Nick
DiSanti, Kenny
Tamborella, Trey Brownfield, Cindi King, Bill Borchert,
and Jeff Burgoyne. The City of Slidell is a Home Rule Charter
municipality. Section 1-03 of the current Charter describes the City's plan of
government as a "mayor-council" form of government. With respect to municipal employment, Section
7-08.B of the Charter expressly provides: The
appointment and dismissal
of Slidell City employees,
other than employees of the
Police Department and the City Council, subject to this charter, shall be made
by the Mayor or the Mayor's authorized designee. Appointment and dismissal of employees of the Slidell City Council
shall he made by the Slidell City Council.
The City
Council, on the other hand, is a nine-member body vested with the
"legislative power of the City." Section 2-01. As referenced above in
Charter Section 1-03, it only has hire/fire authority over Council staffno
other City employees. Both the Mayor and the Council Members are elected
officials. If a former elected council member, or any other person, were to be
employed by the City of Slidell, they would not be contracting with, employed
by, or appointed by the council he/she previously served on. Rather the
individual would be employed by the City through the Mayor's hiring authority,
and he/she would be subject to the Mayor's oversight and firing authority.
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La. R.S. 42:1121A(2) provides
that no former member of a board or commission shall, for a period of two years
following the termination of his public service on such board or commission,
contract with, be employed in any capacity by, or be appointed to any position
by that board or commission.
Docket No. 2025-112: Advisory Opinion that advised that a former member of the Livingston Parish Council was not prohibited from being employed by the Parish President of Livingston within two years of the termination of his term on the Livingston Parish Council.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Kathryn Calmes |
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