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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> ' DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> J.OF LOpt <br /> 'o,�''N " /i3 LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> 'l P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> ‘,14411,'� ,� BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> gy`' (225)219-5600 <br /> '''r"°'� FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> wwwethics.la.gov <br /> March 20, 2017 <br /> James Barnes <br /> Lafourche Parish Director of Public Works <br /> P.O. Box 425 <br /> Mathews, Louisiana 70375 <br /> Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2017-137 <br /> Dear Mr. Barnes: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its March 17, 2017 Board meeting, considered your request for <br /> an advisory opinion regarding whether your step-daughter,Angelle Bourgeois,maybe employed as <br /> Field Maintenance Clerk (Clerk) within Lafourche Parish Public Works Department. She would <br /> report to Nick Guidry as the Field Office Supervisor. He would be responsible for her payroll, <br /> vacation requests, and disciplinary reports. Mr. Guidry's supervisor is the Parish Wide Operations <br /> Manager, Gary Washington. <br /> The Board concluded, and instructed me to inform you, that the Louisiana Code of Governmental <br /> Ethics would not prohibit Angelle Bourgeois from being employed as a Field Maintenance Clerk <br /> within the Lafourche Parish Public Works Department while you serve as the Director of the <br /> Department. La.R.S.42:1119A provides that no member of the immediate family of an agency head <br /> shall be employed in his agency.La.R.S.42:1102(13)provides that the immediate family of a public <br /> servant is his children,the spouses of his children,his brothers and their spouses,his sisters and their <br /> spouses,his parents,his spouse,and the parents of his spouse.As the Director of Public Works you <br /> are the agency head of the Public Works Department.However,your step-daughter is not considered <br /> an immediate family member. As such, she would not be prohibited from being employed by the <br /> Lafourche Parish Public Works Department. <br /> This advisory opinion is based solely on the facts as set forth herein. Changes to the facts presented <br /> may result in a different application of the provisions of the Code of Ethics. The Board issues no <br /> opinion as to past conduct or laws other than Code of Governmental Ethics. If you have any <br /> questions, please contact me at(225) 219-5600 or(800) 842-6630. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> LO SIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> Brett Ro•inson <br /> For the Board <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />