Citing executive orders issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards, Mayor Tim Monceaux has canceled Wednesday night’s city council committee meetings and announced that the May 13 council meeting will be held via video conference.
While all the details have not yet been worked out, Monceaux has assured that the 6 p.m. meeting on May 13 will allow for observation and public comment.
In a notice distributed to members of the city council, Monceaux explains “the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Crowley’s inability to otherwise operate in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meetings Law due to a lack of quaorum under the limitations and restrictions imposed by the Executive Proclamations as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.”
The mayor notes that one of the governor’s orders “all gatherings of 10 or more people to be suspended or postponed. Another order places all persons in the state under a general stay-at-home order.
“The governing authority of the City of Crowley is composed of a Board of Aldermen of nine elected members and elected Mayor,” Monceaux explains in the notice. “In order to conduct a meeting, the City Clerk or the designated deputy City Clerk must be present and is responsible for certifying the quorum and recording the meeting and the votes of the Board.
“In addition, other attendees include the Chief of Police, Fire Chief, City Attorney, City Inspector and other department heads. The number of participants is far in excess of the limitation of 10 persons to be present in a confined space.”
However, Monceaux goes on to say that it’s necessary that the mayor and council meet to approve “essential” business, “including budget adjustments, make appropriations and authorize contracts in order to continue to operate and provide essential public services to the citizens of the City of Crowley.”
Therefore, in accordance with provisions of JBE 2020-30, the city will provide for attendance at its regularly scheduled May 13 full council meeting via internet videoconferencing, according to Monceaux.