Jefferson, La. -- Some on the Jefferson Parish Council say they have been kept in the dark about allegations that some parish code inspectors have been taking bribes. And so a resolution demanding answers was brought up during the council meeting which the administration was not expecting.
"Any opposition to bringing this from the floor?" asked Council Chairman Elton Lagasse.
It was near the end of what was a long meeting that District 3 Councilman Mark Spears brought up a resolution not on the agenda. He said the council had not been given information about troubling allegations that some parish inspectors have taken bribes.
"It is our understanding that an investigation is going on right now," Spears said.
Spears' resolution requested that Parish President John Young's administration report on the allegations to the parish's Governmental Ethics Compliance and Audit Committee on December 19.
"So I want them to report the findings to the Compliance Committee, the Ethics Compliance Committee of which I am chair, representing the council and we just want the findings that the administration has already started to come in front of that committee next week," Spears said.
Spears talked of complaints from constituents, but said he did not know how many inspectors were under investigation.
"Yes, we're in the dark and that's why we're asking the administration about it to get some answers," he said in an interview with FOX 8 News.
Others on the council raised questions, as well.
"So is this an ongoing inquiry that we're now just finding out about, or where does this stand?" asked Councilman Chris Roberts.
In recent years, the parish and its inspectors have become more aggressive in cracking down on quality of life violations.
Parish President John Young was surprised at the resolution. "First of all, this wasn't shared with me before it was read, other than I read it on a Google alert," he said.
Young added that he would be limited in his comments. "I can tell you this much, that proper authorities have been investigating certain allegations... law enforcement authorities in cooperation with the Code Enforcement Director, so obviously if there's an investigation by law enforcement authorities then obviously information is not normally shared because it will corrupt the investigation," Young said during the meeting.
"I would ask this, if the Ethics and Compliance Commission is meeting next week and there are allegations of improprieties that have occurred, which obviously now are publicly based, then to some extent I think that commission needs to be brought up to speed as to what's going on," said Roberts.
"You obviously have to be careful about what you reveal at that point. Otherwise you compromise the investigation," said Young.
Spears said, given some of the past headlines involving corruption in Jefferson Parish government, he wants to make sure the council is informed of serious allegations. "Public trust is a priority," Spears stated.
District 3 Councilman Mark Spears gives interview on his concerns about the allegations.
