“Why are you going into executive session?”
—My question to the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) after it voted to go into closed session.
“We don’t have to give a reason.”
—LSPC legal counsel and former State Sen. Taylor Townsend of Natchitoches, who is under a $75,000 contract to the commission to provide legal advice.
“Yes, you do. It’s the law.”
—My response to attorney Townsend.
“To discuss personnel matters.”
— Townsend (did I mention he’s an attorney?), after a moment’s reflection on my citing law to him. Below is the statute:
RS 42:16
- 16. Executive Sessions
A public body may hold executive sessions upon an affirmative vote, taken at an open meeting for which notice has been given pursuant to R.S. 42:19, of two-thirds of its constituent members present. An executive session shall be limited to matters allowed to be exempted from discussion at open meetings by R.S. 42:17; however, no final or binding action shall be taken during an executive session. The vote of each member on the question of holding such an executive session and the reason for holding such an executive session shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the meeting. Nothing in this Section or R.S. 42:17 shall be construed to require that any meeting be closed to the public, nor shall any executive session be used as a subterfuge to defeat the purposes of this Chapter. (Emphasis added.)
Louisiana Voice 
Go get um Butch
No surprise. They all do what they want.
And the law appears to have no teeth for violating it.
Fairness2014, that because no one complains. If Tom had not been there, the issue would have never come up.
Quite interesting Tom. Texas Open Gov Law doesn’t allow that. The meeting agenda must be published 72 hours in advance. It must specify the person’s position title (not the name) and purpose of the personnel discussion. The higher the position the more information must be disclosed. Pay grade irrelevant and even would apply to a janitor. They also cannot hide this under closed door for legal discussions. Once in session it is illegal to call a closed session that is not already on the agenda.
Several years ago I saw that there was a personnel session but no title or information for a community college board meet. They posted prior to the 72 hour window so I called a trustee (not mine as he wouldn’t talk to me because he hated my guts) to warn him. He had about two hours to act or reschedule the meeting. He was a friend and decided to call the board president to have this changed to comply. The school attorney tried to deny the requirement so I sent a copy of the law to the trustee. Turned out they were trying to hide that the college had a finance guy arrested for embezzlement. It did make the paper the next day. I told the trustee that if they held a meeting not in compliance I was going to file a pro se suit asking the court to invalidate all action taken at the meeting and a demand to comply with proper notification. I had a good laugh when I received emails in response to a request. The chancellor emailed the board complaining that I was improperly attacking him personally. Same packet had his messages suggesting – contrary to state law on records retention – that the board delete all messages related to new campus construction.
From: Louisiana Voice Reply-To: Louisiana Voice Date: Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 9:17 PM To: Bob Mhoon Subject: [New post] Notable Quotables (in their own words)
tomaswell posted: ““Why are you going into executive session?” —My question to the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) after it voted to go into closed session. “We don’t have to give a reason.” —LSPC legal counsel and former State Sen. Taylor To”