Louisiana

Indigent Defense Assistance Board

Minutes of the Board Meeting

October 16, 2001

New Orleans, Louisiana

Stone Pigman Law Firm

Members Present: Risley C. Triche, Chair; Alfred Boustany; Frank DeSalvo; John DiGiulio; Cameron Gamble; Michelle Ghetti; Addison Goff; and Wayne Lee.

Ex Officio Members Present: James Boren; Anthony Champagne; and Henry Walker.

Staff Present: Edward R. Greenlee and Marsha Austtun Oliver.

Guests Present: Kerry Cuccia, Allan Harris, Carol Kolinchak, Phyllis Mann, David Price and Laurie White.

Call to Order and Opening Remarks. The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. by the Chair. Ms. Oliver called the roll; a quorum was present. The Chair gave an overview of the agenda.

Review and Adoption of Minutes of the Last Meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting on July 31, 2001 were reviewed. Mr. Lee moved that the minutes be adopted. Ms. Ghetti seconded the motion, which passed without objection.

Review of Budget for Fiscal Year 2002-2003. Mr. Greenlee reviewed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2002-03. The proposed budget included a request for increases for the Capital Program and the District Assistance Program to bring the total budget request to just under $10 million. Mr. DiGiulio moved that the proposed budget be approved. Mr. Lee seconded the motion which passed without objection.

Regional Capital Conflict Program. The Board discussed the implementation of this new program. Mr. Greenlee is to set up each regional office with a supervisor, 1-2 attorneys and an investigator; additional attorneys will be hired as the need arises. Mr. Triche stated that each regional office will provide monthly financial reports on its use of LIDAB funds. Several board members desired to be apprised of developments concerning the Capital Conflict Panel. Mr. DiGiulio moved that the staff provide monthly updates to all Board members of actions taken by the staff. Ms. Ghetti seconded the motion which passed without objection.

Executive Session. A request was made for the Board to proceed in an Executive Session for the purpose of interviewing candidates for the position of Director of the regional capital conflict offices. A unanimous vote approved the request.

Resumption of Regular Meeting. When the regular meeting reconvened, a unanimous vote of the Board named David Price as the Director of the Baton Rouge Regional Conflict Office. The Board also voted unanimously to select Phyllis Mann as the Director of the Shreveport Regional Conflict Office. No decision was made regarding the position of director for the Orleans Parish Regional Conflict Office.

Adjournment. There being no additional business brought to the attention of the Board, the Chair entertained a motion was made to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded and passed without objection.