2021-1055 - Laserfiche WebLink

Of' LOp STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE �� off � ST�ryx LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS P.O. BOX 4368 BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 �oNF.pE„c� (225)219-5600 FAX: (225)381-7271 1-800-842-6630 www.ethics.1a.gov Friday, March 4, 2022 Stewart Eastman 71630 Maple Street Abita Springs, Louisiana 70420 RE: Louisiana Board of Ethics Docket No.2021-1055 Advisory Opinion Dear Mr. Eastman: The Louisiana Board of Ethics ("Board"), at its March 4, 2022 meeting, considered your request for an advisory opinion as to whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics("Code") would prohibit you from submitting your work of art to the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum("Museum") independent selection committee to be juried and potentially sold at the En Plein Air exhibition. FACTS PROVIDED You are a member of the Museum's Board of Directors("Museum Board"). The Museum is owned and operated by the Town of Abita Springs ("Town"). However, the Museum is mainly run independently by the Museum Board and has no paid employees. Every year the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum holds an art exhibit, called En Plein Air ("Exhibit"),with the next one scheduled for the Spring. The Exhibit features local artists or artists from the surrounding area, who paint various landscapes, townscapes, etc. Artists apply to have their work included in the Exhibit and submit applications to the chair of the event, which is Ron Blitch(an Emeritus Member of the Museum Board). Their work is juried by a selection committee that is appointed by Mr. Blitch but is separate from the Museum Board. The Museum Board does not know or have any authority to select an artist's work to be displayed. The works of art that are chosen are available for purchase by the public during the exhibition.The sale proceeds go to the artists with a commission going to the Museum. Citizens remit payment to the Town of Abita Springs. The Town withholds the commission from the payment to the artist for the Museum, who is paid by the Town via check. You stated that you are an artist who would like to submit your work of art to be exhibited and potentially sold at the Spring Exhibit. LAW La. R.S. 42:1113(B) prohibits an appointed member of any board or commission, member of his immediate family, or a legal entity in which he has a substantial economic interest, from bidding on or entering into or being in any way interested in any contract, subcontract, or other transaction which is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the agency of such appointed member. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER