Bossier City Council adopts new rules of organization and decorum amid public criticism of special meetings

The Bossier City Council voted to adopt a resolution repealing and reenacting Resolution 1 of 2024, which sets the council's rules of organization and decorum, at a special meeting on April 17, 2025. Council member Montgomery moved the resolution and Council member Maggio seconded; the motion carried.

The change, presented as a first and final reading, drew multiple public comments before the vote criticizing the council's use of special meetings and questioning how the council enforces decorum, including the role of the sergeant at arms. Resident West Marriott told the council that recent special meetings “are here today at yet another one of your infamous special meetings” and called them “a farce,” asserting the meetings were used to limit public oversight. Resident David Crockett and resident Cassie Rogers echoed concerns about decorum and enforcement; Ronald Cheatham addressed the council to apologize for prior remarks.

The resolution text announced at the meeting said only that it would “repeal and reenact Resolution 1 of 2024 for the organization of the city council providing rules for the council and otherwise providing with respect thereto” and that it was before the council on first and final reading. Council members voted to adopt the repeal and reenactment; the clerk announced, “Motion carries.”

During public comment, speakers raised legal and procedural questions. Cassie Rogers cited the city code and a recently adopted ordinance (identified in her remarks as ordinance number 111-2024, adopted Nov. 5, 2024) and referenced penalties in the code, as well as Louisiana law she identified verbally as relating to malfeasance in office. Rogers asked specifically what consequences, if any, the council would impose for alleged misconduct in recent meetings. The council did not announce any separate disciplinary action during the session.

Earlier in the meeting the council approved the day's agenda in a separate motion; the clerk recorded that that motion carried unanimously. After adoption of the resolution the council moved to any announcements and then adjourned.

The meeting record shows multiple residents used their allotted public-comment time to press the council on transparency, the use of special meetings, and how the council directs the sergeant at arms to enforce decorum. The resolution adopted at this meeting was described by the motion as a repeal and reenactment of the 2024 rules; no further amendments, implementation schedule, or enforcement procedures were announced on the record at this meeting.

The session closed after the vote and no additional council directions or follow-up tasks were recorded on the public minutes during this meeting.