Caddo Commission President Greg Young announced at the Monday commission work session commencing next month (April) that all committee meetings would move from the Government Plaza chambers to the back room behind the chambers.
Young stated that the move would make the meetings “more efficient, precise” and provide the commissioners an opportunity “to be more candid.”
This unilateral decision by Young raises many questions.
How does moving the meeting to a small, cramped room with no microphones and people sitting on both sides of a conference table make the meetings “more efficient, precise”?
How does moving the meeting to a room with very limited public seating (like maybe 6 chairs) make the meeting “more efficient, precise”?
What does Young mean by saying that moving committee meetings to a small back room behind the chambers—an area not easily accessible by the public—will give commissioners the opportunity to be “more candid”?
Does he mean that very few members of the public will know they must ask a Caddo deputy to open the locked side door in the reception area to access the back room, resulting in lower visitor attendance?
Does he mean that there will be less tv media coverage of committee meetings due to space limitations in the back room, which presumably will give commissioners a better opportunity to be “more candid”?
Does he mean that commissioners sitting with their backs to the limited public seating will be “more candid” not facing members of the public?
As far as logistics, the commissioners will be further away from the restrooms, the kitchen fridge, and the copy machine, if those are factors in making the meetings more “precise, efficient.”
Young also said that the traditional box lunch provided at noon meetings must be consumed between 11:30 a.m. and the 12:30 p.m. Presumably, all the lunch clutter and crumbs will be cleaned up before the meetings crank up so the meetings will be “more efficient, precise.”
Technically the back-room committee meetings do meet the minimum requirements of the Louisiana Open Meetings law, just barely.
To say the least, this edict by Young does not send a positive message on the same day the Commission considers giving money to a FOR-PROFIT business entity.
Young said the committee meeting would move to the chambers if insufficient space resulted from a large number of public attendees. In that instance, presumably the meeting will NOT be "more precise, efficient," and there will be LESS "opportunity to be candid" for the commissioners.
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.