The issue on how to handle the recommendations of the investigative committee on the paving of parking lots at Bossier Power Equipment and Scot's Audio was the "hot" agenda item.
Mayor Tommy Chandler along with Bossier City Attorney Charles Jacobs and Assistant City Attorney Richard Ray had requested an executive session of the council to review their actions regarding the parking lots. This request was denied by the Council because an executive session was only authorized for actual litigation.
The big issue was whether or not Chandler, Jacobs and/or Ray had violated state law(s) in authorizing the paving. The council investigative committee of Brian Hammons (chair), Debra Ross and Cliff Smith had recommended turning over their findings to the Lousiana Legislative Auditor, the Louisiana Attorney General, the Louisiana State Police and the Bossier Parish District Attorney.
Following the well reasoned suggestion of council chair Chris Smith, the Council voted to hire a Baton Rouge attorney specializing in municipal law to review the committee's file. The charge to this attorney will be to opine if any state laws were violated in the decision-making and expenditure of public funds to the parking lot paving. The attorney was to only review the committee's file and to report to the Council, not the city attorney.
This approach takes the mayor, the city attorney and the assistant city attorney totally out of the investigative process from this point forward. Once this report is received then the Council can determine what action(s) to take on this unauthorized expenditure--estimated by some to be approximately $300,000. The fees for this attorney will be paid from the City Attorney Office budget, which includes funds for the retention of outside counsel.
This step is consistent with the good government policy which dictates transparency and compliance with city ordinances and state law. It also will be a positive move to resolve, at least from the Council's position, this issue once the attorney's report is received and the coucnil votes on what action(s), if any , should then be taken.
This new council's credibility has immediately been bolstered by the investigation and the hiring of outside counsel. To say it is a "new day" in Bossier government is not an understatement and it is one long overdue. Hat's off to the Bossier Council!
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.