St. Martinville – The St. Martinville Fire and Police Civil Service Board met Thursday at St. Martinville City Hall in response to a law- suit filed against the board by state Attorney General Liz Murrill, who said members may have violated state open meetings law between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3 The majority of the board voted at Thursday’s meeting to invalidate their actions on Jan. 28 and Feb. 3 for the alleged open meetings violations, in accordance with the Attorney General’s lawsuit.
The meeting was held to discussed the board’s next steps concerning former St. Martinville Police Deputy Chief Cody Laperouse’s appeal of his termination.
Board President Michael Formeller said the civil service board is following the Attorney General’s rules in hopes of getting the lawsuit dismissed.
Formeller said the board made some procedural errors in an appeals hearing and is looking to negate that meeting so it will be on good legal grounds again.
Board
Murrill said she filed her lawsuit against the St. Martinville Fire and Police Civil Service Board because the board made a ratification vote that she believes was ineffective in solving the problem.
A complaint was filed with Murrill’s office, resulting in her sending a letter to the civil service board that Open Meetings Law may have been violated.
Murrill said she filed the lawsuit because her office received a violation that had not been rectified after the letter was sent.
Formeller said the Attorney General has said that if the board invalidates actions it improperly took and fixes those issues, that the lawsuit will go away.
Murrill said the Attorney General’s Office will work with the board to make sure they are clear on what the rules are for open meetings moving forward.
The fix for that is to follow the rules about open meetings and executive sessions, Murrill said.
The St. Martinville Fire and Police Civil Service Board will discuss Laperouse’s appeal at a future meeting.
