2019-495 - Laserfiche WebLink

STATE OF LOUISIANA 44:54167,N DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE 4t./ LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS It Al' 'Ip P.O.BOX 4368 '44.41 c BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 N.,oe+ p - (225)219-5600 FAX (225)381-7271 mn 1-800-842-6630 www.eth:cs.la.gov July 24, 2019 Mr. Roderick G. Bertrand Assistant District Attorney Allen Parish, 33rd Judicial District Post Office Box 839 Oberlin, Louisiana 70655 Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2019-495 Dear Mr. Bertrand: The Louisiana Board of Ethics,at its July 19,2019 meeting,considered your request for an advisory opinion as to whether William"Rusty"Reeves would be prohibited from being elected to the office of Allen Parish Police Juror while serving as a full time employee of the Louisiana Rural Water Association. FACTS PROVIDED Mr. Reeves is a full-time employee of the Louisiana Rural Water Association and serves as its Deputy Director. The Louisiana Rural Water Association provides technical assistance to rural water districts, which are governed by a local water board that is appointed by the police jury. The West Allen Parish Water District was created by the Allen Parish Police Jury under Sec. 82-1181-1210 of the Allen Parish Code of Ordinances pursuant to the authority in La. R.S. 33:3811. Mr. Reeves serves on the Board of Directors of the West Allen Parish Water District. The Louisiana Rural Water Association does not have any say as to who sits on the boards nor how they are governed. The local water boards pay a membership and their membership is voluntary. The West Allen Parish Water District is not a member of the Louisiana Rural Water Association. LAWS La. R.S. 42:1111C(2)(d) provides that no public servant and no legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent,shall receive any thing of economic value for or in consideration of services rendered,or to be rendered,to or for any person during his public service unless such services are:(d)Neither performed for nor compensated by any person or from any officer,director,agent,or employee of such person,if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the public servant's agency; conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the public employee's agency; or has substantial economic interests which may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public employee's official duty. La. R.S. 42:1113A states no public servant, or a member of such a public servant's immediate family,or a legal entity in which he has a controlling interest shall bid on or enter into any contract, subcontract or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such public servant. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER