§ 2-988. Procedures for sanctions for violation of ethical standards by public contractors in lieu of conviction for said violation.

(a)

Whenever a public servant of Jefferson Parish has knowledge of a possible violation of the provisions of section 2-987 by a parish contractor, he shall present any evidence of such violation of which he is in possession to the Jefferson Parish Attorney. The parish attorney shall investigate the alleged violation.

(b)

Should the parish attorney conclude after investigation that the parish contractor is more likely than not in violation of any of the provisions of section 2-987, he shall proceed as follows:

(1)

The parish attorney shall notify the parish contractor in writing by certified mail of the alleged violation(s) by said contractor of the provisions of section 2-987, which notice shall include the details of the alleged violation(s) and a summation of the evidence for said violation(s).

(2)

The notice of violation shall state that the parish contractor alleged to be in violation shall have an opportunity to present evidence in defense or in mitigation of the alleged violation(s) to the governmental and ethics compliance and audit committee.

(3)

The parish attorney shall set a date, time and location for a hearing before the governmental and ethics compliance and audit committee to hear and consider any evidence of the alleged violation(s) as presented by the parish attorney and to also hear and consider any evidence as presented by the parish contractor in defense or in mitigation of the alleged violation(s). The parish attorney shall give reasonable notice of the hearing to the parish contractor.

(4)

After consideration of all evidence presented, the governmental and ethics compliance and audit committee shall make a recommendation to the Jefferson Parish Council as to whether or not any contract between the parish contractor and Jefferson Parish should be terminated due to the parish contractor's alleged violation(s). Should the committee recommend that any such contract be terminated, the committee may also recommend that the parish contractor be prohibited from contracting with Jefferson Parish or with any of the parish's agencies, divisions or special districts for a specified term not less than two (2) years.

(5)

A resolution to adopt the recommendations of the governmental and ethics compliance and audit committee shall be presented to the Jefferson Parish Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting following the hearing.

(6)

The council may adopt the resolution with or without amendments or may cancel the resolution for reasons assigned by the council at the meeting at which the resolution is presented for consideration.

(Ord. No. 23786, § 1, 3-24-10)