COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

JUNE 8, 2001

The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana, was called to order by Chairman Tom Carmody at 1:35 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2001, in the Government Chambers in Government Plaza (505 Travis Street).

Invocation was given by Councilman Spigener.

On roll call, the following members were Present: Councilmen Stewart, Carmody, Serio Spigener, Shyne, and Burrell. 6. Absent: None.

The meeting was called pursuant to the following:

"AMENDED PUBLIC NOTICE

SPECIAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Shreveport City Council will hold a special meeting on June 8, 2001 at 1:30 p.m. in the Governmental Chamber, 505 Travis Street.

The agenda items are:

1) To issue proclamation ordering a special election to fill the vacancy.

2) To appoint an interim member to fill the vacant District A seat on the City Council, created by the death of Councilman Hilry Huckaby III, until a new member is elected;

3) To elect a Vice-Chairman.

No other business will be conducted at the meeting.

Thomas Carmody, Chairman

June 7, 2001 (dl)"

1) To appoint an interim member to fill the vacant District A seat on the City Council, created by the death of Councilman Hilry Huckaby III, until a new member is elected.

Councilman Shyne: At this point, I would make the motion for us to appoint Mrs. Pearl Huckaby, to fill the interim period for Council person from District A, seconded by Councilman Burrell.

Councilman Carmody: I would like to inform the public that the Council did receive a number of resumes and we would like to thank those persons who have expressed an interest in serving in this interim capacity. Having talked to the Council members yesterday, there was some concern over whoever would be appointed as the interim for District A, as having the commitment to not run or seek re-election in the Fall. I had spoken to Pearl Huckaby who said that indeed she is not interested in doing that so I did want to convey that before the vote.

Councilman Shyne: One other thing before we vote, I see Larry English came in late, and I didn’t have a chance to caucus with him to let him know the decision/the motion. Mr. English I made the motion already and I hope you approve. Mr. English: Thank you Mr. Shyne.

Councilman Serio: Is it incumbent on us to discuss the folks who had applied and sent in resumes for this position? Councilman Carmody: No sir, the law actually states that we are to appoint. There is no clear direction as to how that appointment is to be made.

Councilman Burrell: I also reviewed this and I did seek to find out if there were any other requirements other than we needed to fill the position within 10-days or the Governor would have the right to fill that slot. I think that it is admirable and it is important that we do open the process up and I think we did. The resumes that I saw were very capable, but at the same time it is a little different in my opinion where if you are replacing someone due to the fact that they have chosen to go to another office or leave the City, but this situation is a little different. And I also sought to see whether or not, there was a problem as it relates to qualifications on the wife of a deceased, to look at holding that spot and I found none. And under the circumstances I think that out of due respect for our fellow colleague who has contributed so much not only to this City, but to this Council, that at least we would give her the first opportunity to refuse it, and I think we did that and so I am pleased with the choice.

Councilman Shyne: I think it would be an act of disrespect, if we would discuss this any further. We have made the motion. I think we need to go ahead on and vote and appoint Mrs. Huckaby. Now, if there are any comments or observations that persons would like to make after we do this, then I think it would be in line but I think at this particular point, it is just disrespectful. He asked about opening it up, looking at anything else. I think that is what we need to do and we can discuss this after the vote. I would call for the vote, Mr. Chairman, at this point.

Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Stewart, Carmody, Serio Spigener, Shyne, and Burrell. 6. Nays: None.

2) To issue proclamation ordering a special election to fill the vacancy.

RESOLUTION NO. 64 OF 2001

A PROCLAMATION (RESOLUTION) ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT A, CITY OF SHREVEPORT, FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM THEREOF; TO SET THE DATES THERE FOR AND OTHER PERTINENT MATTERS; AND OTHERWISE PROVIDING WITH RESPECT THERETO.

WHEREAS, the Honorable Hilry Huckaby III served the Shreveport City Council District A and the City of Shreveport with distinction; and

WHEREAS, his untimely death on June 1, 2001 created a vacancy in the Office of Shreveport City Councilman, District A; and

WHEREAS, the unexpired term of said office exceeds one year; and

WHEREAS, City Council District A is wholly located within the boundaries of the City of Shreveport; and

WHEREAS, the City Council as the governing authority of the City of Shreveport is therefore required to call an election to fill the unexpired term of said office by Louisiana Revised Statutes 18:602.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Shreveport, acting in due, regular and legal session convened, as follows:

Section 1. That, as required by and pursuant to law, an election shall be and the same is hereby called to elect a successor to the office of City Council District A, City of Shreveport, to serve the unexpired term of said vacant office.

Section 2. That, in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes 18:602 and 18:402, the primary election to elect a successor to the unexpired term shall be held on October 20, 2001 and the general election, should it be necessary, shall be held on November 17, 2001; both elections to be held within the boundaries of District A, City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana between the hours of six (6:OO) o'clock a.m. and eight (8:00) o'clock p.m., in compliance with the provisions of the Louisiana Election Code.

Section 3. That the Clerk of Council shall publish this proclamation immediately in the official journals of the City of Shreveport, Caddo Parish, and Bossier Parish.

Section 4. That the polling place Commissioners and the polling places for this election shall be the same as those designated within City Council District A, City of Shreveport, for the primary election on October 20, 2001 and the general election on November 17, 2001 to elect other public officials in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Election Code.

Section. 5. That the qualifying period for the primary election shall open at 8:30 a.m. on August 8, 2001 and shall close at 5:00 p.m. on August 10, 2001.

Section 6. That the Clerk of Council be and he is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to execute and furnish any certification, form, proclamation, or ancillary requirement for the proper holding of said election.

Section 7. That the Clerk of Council shall forward certified copies of this Resolution by certified mail within twenty-four (24) hours to the Louisiana Secretary of State, Bossier Parish Clerk of Court and Caddo Parish Clerk of Court in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes 18:602.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any provision or item of this Resolution or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items or application of this Resolution which can be given effect without the invalid provisions, items or applications and to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are hereby declared severable.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Shyne, seconded by Councilman Serio passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Stewart, Carmody, Serio Spigener, Shyne, and Burrell. 6. Nays: None.

3) Elect City Council Vice-Chairman.

Councilman Carmody: Our last item on the agenda, prior to the adjournment is to elect a Vice-Chairman to fulfill, as we all realize, Mr. Huckaby was elected at the last Council meeting to serve as Vice-Chair of this Council.

Councilman Burrell nominated Councilman Stewart, seconded by Councilman Serio.

Councilman Burrell: Mr. Chairman, I know that over the past year, we have done some alternating of the Chairman ship that had to do with the ethnic makeup of our City, but I think that we’ve worked together long enough that we’ve learned to have due respect for each other and hopefully their opinion and how direct our Council.

I know that John David is in rotation also and I feel that he would do just a good of a job as I would, I’ll put it that way, that is the reason why I am putting him in nomination.

Councilman Shyne: Councilman John David Stewart would be my choice and he has demonstrated that he is capable, but I would like to say this at this particular point. I do feel uncomfortable with electing a Vice-Chairman on this particular day because I really feel like it is a little disrespectful to Councilman Huckaby and Mrs. Huckaby and to the people of District A. I would have hoped that this special meeting would have been designed to do one thing and that was to appoint Mrs. Huckaby to fill the seat.

I can understand how important it is to have a Vice-Chairman. I would have hoped that we would have waited until our regular Council meeting which would have been on Tuesday to elect a Vice-Chairman of the Council. I could understand if it was just something that we had to do, but I would have hoped that this particular day, this particular hour would have been devoted especially to Hilry Huckaby.

Now, I have no objections to John David Stewart being [Vice] Chairman, matter of fact at the beginning of our term, I submitted his name as Chairman of the Council, but I’m willing to do whatever to do whatever the wishes of this Council is. I want that to go on record as my position at this particular time.

Councilman Carmody: Mr. Shyne, I appreciate your comments are duly noted.

Councilman Burrell: I call for the question.

Motion approved by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Stewart, Carmody, Serio Spigener, Burrell. 5. Nays: None. Abstention: Councilman Shyne. 1.

Councilman Shyne: Madame Clerk and I am going to abstain and that is my reason for abstaining not because I am not in favor of Councilman Stewart being Vice-Chairman. I am in support of him being Vice-Chairman, but I am abstaining because I truly feel that this day ought to be devoted solely to Hilry Huckaby.

Ms. Lee: I understand. That makes the vote 5 to 1.

4) Adjournment.

Motion by Councilman Shyne for adjournment, seconded by Councilman Burrell.

Councilman Carmody: I have a motion and a second. Prior to that, I would like to make one comment and that is that as the new Chairman and in my first official capacity, I do find this a very hard thing to do. I think that those of us who not only worked with or got a chance to know our fellow Councilman, our thoughts and prayers go out to their family and it is with no disrespect that this Council acts today. And we look forward to working with Huck’s widow and I would encourage each of us to give her all of the assistance we can in the next few months.

There being no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 1:43 p.m..

Thomas Carmody, Chairman

Arthur G. Thompson, Clerk of Council