Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler wants to hire employees without the permission of the Bossier City Council.
Chandler says that employee vacancies in budgeted positions need to be filled as soon as possible, without having to wait for a council resolution approving the hire.
The Bossier City Council passed an ordinance in 2009 that requires their approval to fill budgeted employee slots.
Chandler says the ordinance violates the city charter and that it is unnecessary.
Several on the council insist that checks and balances are needed to avoid the situation in 2019 when the city had to lay off employees due to budget restraints.
At the Tues. council meeting Chandler produced an opinion from an outside attorney to support his position.
After a somewhat heated discussion between Chandler, his CAO Amanda Nottingham, and several council members the matter was deferred until the Aug. 15 meeting.
The council clerk was requested to seek an opinion from the Louisiana Attorney General on this issue.
These opinions are just that, they are not binding and do not have the legal weight of a court decision.
One can expect this fuss to continue, even if the Attorney General opinion supports Chandler's position.