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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> p ,„ DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> 1 ` t!% LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> "4, (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> w 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.la.gov <br /> Monday,June 8, 2020 <br /> Julius P. Hebert, Jr. <br /> Michelle L. Neil <br /> 4752 Hwy 311, Suite 114 <br /> Houma, Louisiana 70360 <br /> Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2020-369 <br /> Dear Mr. Hebert and Ms. Neil: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its June 5,2020 meeting,considered your request for an advisory <br /> opinion as to whether John Navy, a member of the Terrebonne Parish Council, may apply for and <br /> receive a small business grant from the nonprofit corporation, Terrebonne Economic Development <br /> Foundation, through its Bayou Business Recovery Grant Program, for his personal business, when <br /> the grant is administered by the Terrebonne Parish Economic Development Authority. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You stated that John Navy is a public servant and an elected official for the Terrebonne Parish <br /> Consolidated Government (TPCG). John Navy is the sole owner of a personal private business, <br /> Navy Enterprise, LLC, which offers janitorial services. You stated that the Terrebonne Parish <br /> Consolidated Government is a Home Rule Charter Government with a nine-member council as its <br /> legislative branch and a parish president,who is head of the executive branch. You stated that John <br /> Navy is an elected member of the council. You also stated that the Parish President submits an <br /> a_inual budget and the budget is subject to council approval. You stated tha- John Navy intends to <br /> apply for and receive a grant administered by the Terrebonne Parish Economic Development <br /> Authority (TEDA) through their nonprofit organization, Terrebonne Economic Development <br /> Foundation. <br /> You stated that the relationship between TPCG and TEDA is limited to the council appointing two <br /> members of TEDA's board and the council's approval of the parish budget. You stated that TEDF <br /> received funds from BHP Oil Company to award grants to assist Terrebonne Parish businesses <br /> who have suffered economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. You stated that the grants are <br /> designed to provide up to $10,000 per applicant to assist Terrebonne Parish small businesses. You <br /> stated that the eligibility requirements were established to ensure that grants are awarded to small <br /> business operating primarily in Terrebonne Parish. You also stated that a limited number of TEDA <br /> staff initially review the applications and make recommendations for approval. You stated that <br /> after a recommendation is made, all identifying information is scrubbed from the recommended <br /> applications and reviewed blindly by a three-person committee, who makes final approvals. You <br /> stated that neither the Terrebonne Parish Council nor the Terrebonne Parish President will <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />