It looks like some of Lincoln Parish’s public officials have not yet learned their lesson on Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law.
This email from the Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 went out last week summoning Lincoln Parish Police Jury (LPPJ) members to a “walking quorum” of the jury to discuss the public’s business.
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07/05/2012 at 7:15 am |
Despite the sheriff being caught engaging in this very same illegal practice, the Fire District has decided that it too is above the law. These officials arrogantly assume the laws don’t apply to them and get angry when their business-as-usual antics get challenged. Fire District Chairman Thompson blew a gasket when the Police Jury didn’t rubber stamp his slate of appointees to the Fire District Board. His attempt to pack the board was challenged by a Jury tired of losing control of these numerous boards. Now, Ford is attempting to illegally influence Jury members into supporting his agenda outside the glare of public scrutiny. We taxpayers support all of these various government entities and have a right to know what business is being discussed outside our purview. In fact, it’s the law that we have a right to know, but you wouldn’t know that from the efforts of these officials. Where’s our District Attorney, and why isn’t he prosecuting these illegals acts? Oh yeah, Bob Levy’s living in Baton Rouge running one of the many higher education boards which are a burden on the taxpayers at the state level. They can all get away with this crap because only 18% turned out to vote in the last election. No wonder they don’t pay any attention to the law, because we don’t pay any attention to them!
07/05/2012 at 8:04 am |
Silly Man…tricks are for kids!
07/05/2012 at 8:48 am |
Angry-taxpayer is correct public officials are not held accountable. Ruston daily leader is not a help.
07/06/2012 at 7:06 am |
Louisiana is supposed to have a set of Sunshine Laws to prevent this sort of shady practice. Where’s Bobby Jindal and his push for tougher ethics laws to rid Louisiana of its corrupt reputation? Oh yeah, he’s busy hiding the records of the governor’s office behind executive privilege in the same manner that Obama is attempting to hide the Fast & Furious coverup documents. Jindal’s ethics push was all BS designed to fool people into thinking that the old Louisiana system had changed, but episodes like this clearly indicate that it hasn’t. Both Jindal’s conservative facade and his ethics laws are as phony as a three-dollar bill. This website has published proof of illegal walking quorums in violation of Louisiana laws by both Sheriff Mike Stone and Fire District Chief Dennis Ford, yet no one from the state has bothered to make an arrest or file any charges. Angry_Taxpayer! is right that they are allowed to get away with malfeasance in office because we taxpayers refuse to pay attention and show up to vote!