An attempt to put to rest a running issue with a police dog that the police chief said is no longer needed, but aldermen decided to keep, ran afoul of the state’s Open Meetings Law.
At Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting the dog issue arose again.
Alderwoman Connie Thibodeaux made a motion to add an agenda item but did not specify what it was about.
Alderman Ernest Blanchard opposed adding the unspecified agenda item. The other Board members, Marion “Noot sie” Sattler, Chad Andrepont, Germaine Simpson and Thibodeaux voted for the agenda change.
The state’s Open Meetings Law states items to be added to an agenda require unanimous consent from the Board members present.
“Any motion for a vote to add an item to the agenda shall include with reasonable specificity the subject matter of the additional agenda item and the purpose for adding the item to the agenda. Public comment on the motion must be allowed prior to any vote to add an item to the agenda,” an Attorney General’s opinion states. The opinion is cited on the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s website in reference to the Open Meetings Law.
Mayor Scott Fontenot said the the action on the dog was incorrect and may require a special meeting.
The agenda item was not the end of the action on the former Eunice Police K-9 Robin.
Thibodeaux also gained unanimous approval to retire the dog. She said the city has been paying to keep the dog with a master trainer since June 22, 2020, at a cost exceeding the value of the dog.
Thibodeaux then made a motion to donate the dog to its former handler, Lt. Michael Dunn, but city attorney Stan Feucht interrupted saying the city cannot donate property. Feucht said the term should be a “cooperative endeavor” with Dunn to receive the dog.
The motion, passed unanimously, also included that Dunn provide proof he possesses the certification to handle the dog.
The city has been paying $15 a day for the dog to be kept, which would amount to annual bill of $5,475.
In July 2020, Eunice aldermen decided to keep the dog after Police Chief Randy Fontenot said the police dog was no longer needed after three years of service.
The police chief said ending the K9 program was a budget decision. The program cost $500 to $600 a month, he said.
Fontenot requested the Board declare the dog surplus, but that was rejected.
“Any programs that are in the police department are at my discretion. I’ve eliminated the program. The dog is no longer of use to the police department ... that civil service board cannot order me to have a particular program ...” the police chief told the Board.
Blanchard noted donations helped pay for the dog. The police chief said donations were about $8,000 to $9,000.
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