Committee considered to review EBR parish attorney applicants

Metro Councilman Chandler Loupe has made a last-minute addition to tonight’s council meeting agenda to include a proposal to establish a committee to vet candidates for the vacant parish attorney position. Along with reviewing applications, the committee would also interview qualifying candidates and provide recommendations to the council, which has the final say on the hire. Loupe could not be reached this afternoon for more details on the committee he’s proposing. His agenda space request filed this afternoon does not include information on committee membership or makeup. Following a nearly two-hour public hearing earlier this month, the Metro Council voted 8-3 to dismiss former Parish Attorney Mary Roper. East Baton Rouge Parish First Assistant Attorney Lee Ann Batson is serving as interim parish attorney. The council convenes at 4 p.m. on the third floor of City Hall, 222 St. Louis St. Also this evening, the council will consider: approval of a measure that would place on the December ballot a reorganization of the city-parish Department of Public Works; an agreement with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to operate a downtown parking garage; and changes to contracts the city-parish has with three companies providing bus benches. The council is also expected to defer discussion of outfitting police officers with body cameras. —Steve Sanoski