No, it’s NOT a trick question.
The Bossier City Council voted to place a proposed amendment (no. 7) to the city's contract with
Manchac Consulting Group until its first meeting in 2024. The agenda item at Tuesday’s (Nov.7) meeting was for a first reading. The amendment could have been adopted at the council's Nov. 21 meeting.
The amendment provides for substantial increases in the monthly compensation to Manchac during the term of the amendment, which is June 1. 2024 through May 31, 2028. By most readings the proposed term is four (4) years.
Bossier City Ord. 2-161 reads in part "Unless otherwise provided by law, a contract for supplies or services may be entered into for periods of not more than three years..."
Presumably this ordinance sets a MAXIMUM term for municipal contracts unless state law sets a shorter time frame.
There is a state statute that sets a maximum term of five years (Louisiana Revised Statues 39:1615).
However, this law also uses discretionary language: "Unless otherwise provided by law, a contract for supplies or services may be entered into for periods of not more than five years..." Note that the Bossier ordinance tracks this language with the exception for a three (3) year max versus a five (5) year max.
Hmmm.
Is this a Business Law 101 question?
But remember, it IS the free state of Bossier.