Council rejects ordinance that would have broadened member access to Port records

The Plaquemines Parish Council on July 9 voted down Ordinance No. 26-108, a proposed policy that would have permitted members of the governing authority to access Port records, including records described in the draft as confidential, proprietary or otherwise exempt from the Louisiana Public Records Law, subject to nondisclosure agreements and a public access log.

Commissioner Patricia L. McCarty offered the ordinance and Commissioner Tyronne Edwards seconded. The ordinance's provisions included: allowing Council members to request and receive Port records without following the general public records request policy; requiring staff to comply with written member requests, including for records that the minutes describe as confidential or exempt; requiring execution of nondisclosure agreements where applicable; and maintaining a public log of access to exempt records with the name of the person, date, and description of the record.

The motion failed on roll call: YEAS — Commissioners Tyronne Edwards, Patricia L. McCarty, Carlton M. LaFrance, Sr. and Mark Cognevich; NAYS — Commissioners Brian Champagne, Chris Schulz, Stuart J. Guey and Ronnie Newsom; Commissioner Mitch Jurisich was absent. The minutes do not record extended debate or the specific reasons individual commissioners voted for or against the measure.

Next steps: because the ordinance failed, the Port's existing public-records procedures remain in force; the minutes do not note any immediate follow-up or referral to staff for revision.