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Council rejects exception; discussion centers on police seat, appointments and legal fees for civil-service board
Summary
The council debated civil-service representation and appointed two members to the Fire & Police Civil Service Board while voting down a proposed exception that would have limited uniformed representation. The council also introduced an ordinance to fund independent legal counsel for the civil-service board.
The New Iberia City Council considered several civil-service items: appointments to the municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board, whether to take an exception under Louisiana law that would reduce uniformed representation, and an ordinance to budget legal fees for the board.
Resolutions to appoint Wyatt Collins and Doug Luvier to the Fire & Police Civil Service Board were presented; administration explained that Collins must resign a seat on the Board of Adjustments because municipal code prevents simultaneous service on the police-and-fire civil-service board and another municipal board. The council moved and voted on both appointments on the record (motions made; transcript records call for votes).
On Resolution 2646, which would invoke an exception under La. R.S. 33:2476(C)(4) to limit uniformed representation, debate grew detailed and at times technical. Council members and staff explained an idiosyncrasy of the statute: a NO vote in the current motion would leave the city required to have a police officer elected by department members and seated on the civil-service board. Supporters of restoring a police representative argued the city’s maturing police department would benefit from direct representation; others asked legal questions about the council’s role if it later rejected an elected candidate and requested staff to check state procedures.
Council members also introduced an ordinance to appropriate funds so the civil-service board can retain legal counsel when needed; administration said state law requires the city to pay for such counsel if the board hires independent representation. The council discussed the board secretary’s long service and the occasional need for outside counsel to handle complex disciplinary or procedural matters.
What happens next: Appointments proceed as administrative steps; the failed/tabled status of the exception will be reflected in the civil-service board composition and administration said it will check state procedures for handling an elected uniformed member and return with clarifications.
