Jefferson Parish Council defers vote on IG speech ordinance after agreement

By Chris Joseph

Source: FOX 8

December 11, 2024

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WVUE) – The Jefferson Parish Council didn’t vote to restrict the parish inspector general’s speech, but the council’s deferral came at a price.

During Wednesday’s (12/11) council meeting, Councilmember Arita Bohannan said she begrudgingly supported a deferral on an ordinance she spearheaded.

She said Inspector General Kim Chatelain requested the deferral, and both sides agreed Chatelain would not:

Make comments to the media
Appear before the media
Release public letters or statements not connected to I.G. reports

Chatelain said she didn’t have any problems not commenting to the press for the next five weeks (until the next council meeting). She declined an interview request for this story.

The agreement allows both sides to hash out a middle ground on the proposal.

As written now, it prohibits Chatelain from issuing comments which would raise “public condemnation” of anyone connected to an investigation. It also prohibits her office from secretly providing media any information which is not public.

Despite the agreement to defer, Bohannan chastised Chatelain for her frequent comments and communication with the media over the ordinance and a controversial brewpub deal in recent months.

“You have an obligation to our taxpayers. They did not hire you to be a media consult,” Bohannan said.

Bohannan also expressed support for part of the proposed ordinance which would limit what Chatelain’s office could provide to the media.

“You can’t possibly want an I.G. to secretly or anonymously have contact with the media. It’s not her role. She’s supposed to be above all of this. She’s supposed to be above politics,” she said.

Existing parish ordinances state the inspector general “may do all things necessary” to carry out the functions and duties of the office.

The only mention of the “media” in the existing ordinance is the requirement the media is notified of annual reports.

In the meeting, Chatelain said would work to set a date to begin discussions on the proposed ordinance and possible changes.

“I have no problems disagreeing. I have no problems in reaching a place where we can agree to disagree and I don’t necessarily think that we have to agree on a problem to design a solution,” she said.

The delay came after the Association of Inspectors General, Bureau of Governmental Research, and Loyola University Ethics Law Professor Dane Ciolino all expressed their opposition to the proposal.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025.

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