The Shreveport City Council's last meeting on Tues. July 28 was its first "live" meeting since Gov. John Bel Edward's Emergency Executive Order in March.
The council will resume its Monday work session/administrative conference and its regular Tues. meeting next week--Aug.10 and Aug. 11.
Both meetings will be "live" in the chambers at Government Plaza.
The combined work sessions and regular meeting have been discontinued.
Council chair James Flurry has been successfully battling cancer since May. He is actively performing his council duties from home. However he is in strict isolation.
Prior to the July 28 meeting, Flurry had participated in the Zoom council meetings.
Due to his weakened immune system from aggressive chemotherapy, Flurry was advised by his doctors to stay isolated. He was explicitly advised to not attend the council meetings for the foreseeable future.
The good news is that a federal court ruling in Alexandria sets a legal precedence that allows Flurry to participate by Zoom in the "live" council meeting.
The judge ruled that a 98-year-old Alex councilman could attend the "live" meetings virtually--by Zoom.
The councilman's doctors advised that due to his age and medical condition (he had also broken an elbow in earlier this year) that he should isolate during the pandemic.
The ruling is limited to the time frame(s) covered by Gov. Edward's emergency pandemic orders only.
Thus Flurry can participate and vote at the council meetings by Zoom. The other council members will be in attendance at Government Plaza.
The chambers at Government Plaza now have plexiglass between all elected officials and all public employees at the horseshoe. The speaker's podium has plexiglass in front of it.
Sitting is very limited in the chambers and there is overflow distanced seating outside the chambers.
All visitors must have their temperature taken when entering the building and wear a mask or face shield at all times.
Other pandemic safety measures are closely monitored both in the chambers and the Government Plaza building which was completely sanitized Wed. Aug 5.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.