Closed talks likely on grants snarl

It appears discussion of what, if anything, to do about an incomplete project that leaves the city ineligible for block grants from the state is headed for City Council executive session.
Mayor Bob Morris, on his new business list for the July council meeting, proposed to talk about the “city’s inability to receive block grants” and “lawsuit against Karl Aucoin and/or Aucoin & Associates.”
Alderman Jack Burson, who is an attorney, promptly suggested both items be coupled for a closed-door review “since they involve the likelihood of litigation.”
Discussion of litigation is an established exception to the Louisiana public meetings law which required open-door government. Agencies by tradition go into executive session to discuss not only developments in actual lawsuits, but activities and incidents which indicate litigation might arise.
Morris says the state has told him the city is not eligible for Community Block Grants until a five-year-old emergency wastewater grant project is closed. The city had hoped to receive as much as $400,000 in CBG street funds this summer.
Closing the open grant, however, does not guarantee the city would get the street money.
The grant remains open because the city disputes some equipment works properly. A vendor in that dispute has threatened to sue.
Morris has accused City Attorney Jacque Pucheu, consulting engineer Karl Aucoin and former Mayor Lynn LeJeune of improper actions relative to the grant and the wastewater plant.
Last month, he asked the Department of Environmental Quality to investigate his allegations.
On July 2, he met with DEQ investigators in Baton Rouge.
Asked about that meeting, he said, “Based on evidence that I presented, DEQ feels there is enough evidence to continue its criminal investigation.”
He declined to provide the name of investigators that he met with.
So it appears an executive session Tuesday night could include discussion of whether to sue or settle with the vendor in the 2003 grant dispute, pay back that $178,000 grant and proceed with litigation of its own, accept and close the project, pursue binding arbitration.
Such sessions are supposed to be discussion only, allowing those participating to let their hair down without being on the record.