Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 26-222
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics prohibits a member of the Cameron Parish Police Jury from accepting employment with a person who contracts with his agency.
Facts:
Michael Fewell has served on the Cameron Parish Police Jury since January 2024, and his term expires on January 9, 2028. Mr. Fewell is considering employment with K&M, an engineering firm that contracts with the Police Jury on construction type projects. Mr. Fewell will be a salaried and/or hourly employee, will have no ownership interest in K&M, and will not receive compensation for any transactions between the Police Jury and K&M.
Law:
La. R.S. 42:1111C(2)(d) provides that no public servant and no legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, shall receive any thing of economic value for or in consideration of services rendered, or to be rendered, to or for any person during his public service unless such services are: (d) Neither performed for nor compensated by any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency.

La. R.S. 42:1111C(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (2)(d) of this Subsection, a member of a school board or parish or municipal governing authority may continue employment with a person who has or is seeking a contractual or other business or financial relationship with his governmental entity or an agency under the jurisdiction or supervision of his governmental entity provided all of the following conditions are met: (a) The member is a salaried or wage-earning employee of his employer. (b) The compensation of the member is substantially unaffected by his employer's contractual or other business or financial relationship with his governmental entity or other agency under the jurisdiction or supervision of his governmental entity. (c) The member is not an officer, director, trustee, or partner of his employer. (d) The member does not own an interest which exceeds one percent of the legal entity which employs him. (e) The member does not participate in any transaction with his governmental entity or agency under the jurisdiction or supervision of his governmental entity, including recusing himself from any vote, involving his employer. (f) The member complies with the disclosure requirements in R.S. 42:1114.

Recommendations:
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.
Assigned Attorney: Kelsey Simmons
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2026-222 - AO - W. Thomas Barrett, III
2026-222 - Advisory Opinion Draft - Barrett