"Airport wants document rules"

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Airport wants document rules
After citizen investigation, board seeks copying fees, restrictions
By Claire Taylor 
The Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser


Citizens will have to pay for copies of public documents from the Lafayette
Airport Commission and will not be allowed to make their own copies under a
policy to be proposed Thursday.

The commission, at its meeting Thursday, also is expected to consider
adopting a travel policy that would require commissioners and staff to pay
for their own travel expenses and be reimbursed by the Airport Commission.
   
The commission's legal committee met Monday to consider advancing to the
full commission three policies recommended by the Louisiana Legislative
Auditor during an advisory audit released March 12. They include policies
for travel, Freedom of Information Act and records retention. 

The policies were prompted by the legislative auditor's advisory report,
which in turn was prompted by concurrent investigations by The Daily
Advertiser and a group of citizens in October 2006. The investigations
turned up spending of airport money for expensive meals for staff,
commissioners and their spouses; possible open meetings violations; and
Christmas parties with door prizes paid with Airport funds.

Lafayette Regional Airport is funded in part with a parish property tax.

The citizens group spent several days at the Airport offices making copies
of receipts and invoices with a copier they brought with them. That will no
longer be allowed if the proposed Freedom of Information Act policy is
adopted Thursday.

Airport Commission Attorney Glenn Edwards said Monday that the policy should
only outline fees for copying public documents. State law allows public
bodies to charge reasonable fees for copying public documents. State laws
regarding public records will be followed for all other issues, he said.

Aviation Director Greg Roberts referred to the October citizens
investigation in which "we got the records back in rough shape, to say the
least."

Edwards said the law does not require the airport to hand over files of
documents to be copied, but it is required to allow citizens to view the
documents, mark those they want copied and pay the public body to make the
copies.

Airport Commissioners also are expected Thursday to ask Edwards to request
an attorney general opinion on the appropriateness of several annual
"marketing" events.

Edwards said he did not get the impression the auditors were upset about a
Christmas social, which cost $2,487 in 2005 and is held for travel agents,
rental car representatives, fixed-base operators, public officials and
others.

District Attorney Mike Harson said some commissioners and staff may be
required to reimburse the Airport for some of the expenses they charged to
the airport.

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