2017-031 - Laserfiche WebLink

STATE OF LOUISIANA �,o''o'F Louj% DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS QFQa w2. •yy l g}„ P.O. BOX 4368 ' BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 MRi°e ''� (225)219-5600 FAX:(225)381-7271 1-800-842-6630 www.ethics.la.gov September 18,2017 Shanea M. Nelson Director,Department of Community Development Lafayette Consolidated Government P.O. Box 4017-C Lafayette,Louisiana 70502 Re: Louisiana Board of Ethics Docket No. 2017-031 Dear Ms. Nelson, The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its September 15, 2017, meeting, considered your request for an advisory opinion as to whether the Code of Governmental Ethics (Code) would prohibit Richard Castille from completing his application in the Housing Rehabilitation Program now that he is employed by the Department of Community Development. The Department of Community Development for Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Govern- ment ("CD") administers federal Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG") and Home Investment Partnerships Program grant funds, received from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"), to carry out the Housing Rehabilitation Program ("Rehab Program"). The Rehab Program provides a grant of up to $30,000, plus labor, to reha- bilitate owner-occupied, single-family homes for low and moderate income applicants. The Re- hab Program is under the CD Housing and Federal Programs Division and is managed by a Housing Rehab Specialist,who supervises the carpentry and paint crews, and all other contrac- tors on the job. The Rehab Program is offered to all eligible residents. On October 27, 2014,Richard Castille and his wife submitted a pre-application under the Rehab Program. Following the submission of all required documentation, on September 1, 2016,it was determined by the CD Housing and Federal Programs Division that Mr. Castille is income- eligible for the Rehab Program. On March 3, 2017, an income re-determination was conducted, after which,it was determined that Mr. Castille is still income-eligible for the Rehab Program. You provided that Richard Castille was hired by the Department of Community Development on January 17, 2017, as a Neighborhood Services Counselor within the CD Human Services District. As such, Mr. Castille's duties include the provision of housing counseling services, in- cluding workshops, seminars, homebuyer training, home maintenance classes, and one-on-one counseling with income-eligible individuals. Mr. Castille does not a hold a decision making posi- tion and has to influence on the application proves with respect to the Rehab Program. You stat- AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER