Council president James Green has an attitude that as president he is king of the council.
Green has his own church and fellow council member Tabitha Taylor is a loyal follower. And reportedly Taylor's paramour city attorney Ron Lattier attends as well. Who knows, tagalong council member Alan Jackson may also be a Green parishioner.
The latest stunt by Green and his cohorts is the selection of a new council clerk with NO input from other council members, as in his non-allies, in an obviously secret process.
The seat has been empty since the resignation of the prior CLERK in Aug. The council meetings have been effectively held with temporary persons sitting in the clerk's chair at meetings.
At the Council meeting yesterday (Tues.) Green introduced his hand picked candidate Kendra Joseph and requested a confirmation vote.
Green did NOT bother to list this as an agenda item as required by the Open Meetings Law. Nor did he provide a vita or resume.
City attorney Ron Lattier advised the council that a vote could not be taken yesterday.
Now a special meeting of the council has been set for this Fri. Sept. 30 to confirm the appointment of Joseph.
This writer has texted the council members complaining of this non- transparent process as both a violation of the open meetings law and the city charter.
Below is a public records request that has been sent. The time delays for answering will not run before the Fri. meeting.
There is NO rush to fill this position. There will be three if not four new council members elected this year.
The council clerk must work with all seven members of the council. Those coming on the council in late Dec. should have the opportunity to vote on this position.
“From: John E. Settle, Jr.
SENT: Wednesday, September 28, 2022 2:01PM
TO: LEGAL LEGAL-DL@shreveportla.gov, Ronald, Joseph, LeVette, Grayson, tabatha.taylor@shreveportla.gov, james.green@shreveportla.gov, ALAN.JACKSON@SHREVEPORTLA.GOV, Jerry.Bowman@shreveportla.gov, John Nickelson
Subject: city council clerk position
To whom it may concern
This is a PRR for the following
1. Copies of all Job postingS for city council clerk position
2. Copies of ALL responses to postings including vita, resume, letters of recommendation
3. Copies of all meetings of the council and/or a council committee to review clerk applications—notices of meetings and minutes
4. Notices of all written communications including emails and texts concerning interviews of council clerk candidates
5. All written communications including texts and emails to potential clerk candidates
6. All written communications including texts and emails by and between council members and/or city employees concerning clerk candidates
Time period from resignation of prior clerk through yesterday 27 Sept 22
Thanks
John Settle”
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.