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Council defers executive director appointment, orders third‑party background checks
Summary
Chairman Newsome moved to offer the executive director post to James Ethridge but several commissioners insisted on background checks for finalists; the board agreed to arrange third‑party checks and deferred the appointment for two weeks.
The Plaquemines Parish Council deferred a resolution to offer the district's executive‑director position to James Ethridge after commissioners asked for independent background checks on finalists.
"I will fill in a blank with James Bo Ethridge and ask for a second," Chairman Lloyd Ronnie Newsome said when presenting the appointment resolution. The motion was seconded and prompted questions from the public and commissioners about vetting.
"I prefer to do background checks on all three before we offer," said Commissioner Schultz, voicing concern that the body should not make an offer only to have to rescind it later. Multiple commissioners said they supported the search firm's work but still wanted checks completed before an offer or vote.
Commissioners described a search process that produced a short list, discussed the salary range previously set by the board and debated whether to wait for the absent commissioner to participate. After extended discussion the chairman said the board would arrange a third‑party background check and the item was deferred for two weeks so commissioners could review the results.
The deferral preserves the board's option to proceed at a later meeting after independent vetting.
