HB392 changes agenda additions at meetings

With the recent hullabaloo and confusion about boards and commissions related to the ethics reform in the state, another change has been handed down to government entities, boards and commissions concerning the procedure to amend agendas.

Rep. Simone Champagne addressed the Vermilion Parish Police Jury along with Rep. Jonathan Perry to re-cap items from the regular legislative session that just ended.

In her comments she made the jury aware of House Bill 392 initiated by Rep. Rick Gallot that removes the provision which allows a public body to take up a matter not on the agenda of a public meeting.

More specifically, an item not on an agenda previously required a two-thirds vote from the members. With the act signed by the governor on June 6, an agenda item can only be added with an unanimous vote by the present body.

The measure prohibits taking up a matter not on the agenda as a subterfuge (deceptive measures) to defeat the purposes for provisions relative to open meetings.

In other jury news, a 1984 parish ordinance was revisited when concerns were addressed to jury legal council regarding the recent outbreak of salmonella pertaining specifically to itinerate vendors, or more commonly known as road-side vendors.

The ordinance states that if a person selling the items grew (in the case of fruits and vegetables) or caught (in the case of seafood or related items), themselves, then a permit is not required to sell said items. However if the items are purchased from another source, then the seller is required to get a permit from the jury at the cost of $500 or be in violation of the ordinance.

“How does one enforce such an ordinance?” Juror Wayne Touchet asked.

“I guess that would be up to the Sheriff,” Paul Moresi, legal counsel answered.

The item was sent back to committee for further review.

The next Vermilion Parish Police Jury meeting will consist of committee meetings at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16 at the Vermilion Parish Courthouse in Abbeville.