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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> OF LOUr DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> Aw a" ('�r%sy <br /> g�'',,., , a LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> : l;'''&,,ii. . P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> CONfi°ESC'• (225)219-5600 <br /> '-•»w• FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.la.gov <br /> 06/07/2021 <br /> Assistant Fire Chief Chase Bruner <br /> Westwego Fire Department <br /> 1002 4th St. <br /> Westwego, La 70094 <br /> Re: Board Docket No. 2021-259 <br /> Dear Assistant Chief: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics,at its June 4,2021 meeting,considered your request for an advisory <br /> opinion regarding whether Robert Hebert, Assistant Fire Chief for Westwego Fire Department in <br /> Jefferson Parish,may serve as the Fire Chief while continuing to serve as the Assistant Fire Chief. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> The Westwego Fire Chief is not a full-time position and is not paid a salary;however,the fire chief <br /> does receive a stipend from the city for his service. The Westwego Fire Chief is elected by all <br /> employees of the fire department—paid and volunteer. The name of the person elected is given to <br /> the Mayor of Westwego, who makes a recommendation to the Westwego City Council, which is <br /> responsible for the hiring of the fire chief. Historically, the person elected fire chief by the <br /> firefighters is the person recommended by the Mayor to the Westwego City Council for <br /> appointment. The fire chief is responsible for supervising the assistant chiefs and all paid staff of <br /> the fire department. Westwego has five Assistant Fire Chiefs, two of which are paid by the City <br /> of Westwego. The Assistant Fire Chiefs are civil service employees. <br /> Mr. Robert Hebert, who is one of the 2 paid Assistant Fire Chiefs, would like to run for fire chief <br /> if the Code does not prohibit him from serving in both capacities. Mr. Hebert stated that if he were <br /> appointed fire chief,he would not accept the stipend for his service. Additionally,he stated that he <br /> would not allow the appointment to change his daily routine, and that all time spent on the <br /> responsibilities as Fire Chief would be done outside of his work hours as Assistant Chief. <br /> The Attorney General has already been contacted regarding whether this matter presents a dual <br /> office holding issue. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 42:1112A prohibits a public servant from participating in a transaction in which he has a <br /> substantial economic interest. <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />