State Board of Private Security Examiners public meetings in 2022

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Finance Committee will meet to discuss the 2022-2023 financials and budget. The committee will also receive an update regarding a new accounting system.

• New Accounting System Update
• Review and Discuss 2022-2023 Financials and Budget
• Review March 23, 2022 Special Board Meeting Minutes

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The State Board of Private Security Examiners will meet to discuss candidates for the position of Executive Secretary. The meeting includes executive sessions to review specific applicants.

• Executive session regarding Lester J. Millet III for Executive Secretary
• Executive session regarding Kerry J. Najolia for Executive Secretary
• Executive session regarding Carl F. Saizan, Jr. for Executive Secretary
• Selection of an individual to be offered the Executive Secretary position

The Board appointed Carl F. Saizan, Jr. to the position of Executive Secretary with a starting date of January 9, 2023. The Board also approved motions to file ethics complaints regarding Executive Secretary overtime issues.

• Offered Executive Secretary position to Carl F. Saizan, Jr. at $100,000 per year with no retirement or health benefits (7-0)
• Approved recommendation to file Board of Ethics complaint regarding Bridgette Hull’s overtime (7-0)
• Approved motion to bring any Executive Secretary overtime issue since JBE 2016-75 to the Board of Ethics (7-0)
• Approved Finance Committee Report (7-0)
• Approved previous meeting minutes (7-0)

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The State Board of Private Security Examiners' search committee will hold executive sessions to discuss the character and competence of two candidates, Judy Dupuy and Carl F. Saizan Jr., then select applicants to recommend to the full board for the Executive Secretary position.

• Executive session for discussion of candidate Judy Dupuy
• Executive session for discussion of candidate Carl F. Saizan Jr.
• Selection of applicants to recommend for Executive Secretary

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Executive Secretary Search Committee of the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners is meeting to discuss the character and professional competence of five candidates for the position of Executive Secretary. The committee will then select three applicants to recommend to the full Board for consideration.

• Executive session to discuss candidate Judy Dupuy
• Executive session to discuss candidate Thomas A. Malik
• Executive session to discuss candidate Lester J. Millet III
• Executive session to discuss candidate Kerry J. Najolia
• Executive session to discuss candidate Carl F. Saizan Jr.

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The State Board of Private Security Examiners' Executive Secretary Search Committee will hold a public meeting to discuss candidates for the Executive Secretary position. The agenda includes only procedural items and a discussion of candidates, with no specific names, votes, or financial details provided.

• Discussion of candidates for the Executive Secretary position

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Finance Committee of the State Board of Private Security Examiners will meet to review progress on a new accounting system and discuss the 2022-2023 financials and budget. The meeting includes standard procedural items such as approval of minutes and public comments.

• Review progress of new accounting system
• Review 2022-2023 financials and budget
• Public comments

State Board of Private Security Examiners

This is a procedural quarterly meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners. The board will hear committee updates, discuss committee membership and duties, receive an interim executive secretary report, and set the next meeting date for January 2023. No substantive decisions or public hearings are listed on the agenda.

• Committee updates from eight committees including Field Enforcement, Finance, Legislative, Training, Policy/Procedure/Governance, New Executive Secretary Search, Ethics, and General
• Discussion of committee membership and duties
• Interim Executive Secretary report
• Determination of next quarterly meeting date in January 2023

The Board approved new accounting software and updated fingerprint submission rules for guard applications. Members repopulated all committee assignments and voted to change the meeting frequency to every other month starting January 2023.

• Approved previous meeting minutes (7-0)
• Recommended additional accounting services and software from Faulk and Winkler (7-0)
• Approved rule that fingerprint cards are only required if guard does not show 'Background is Clear' in ImageTrend portal (7-0)
• Repopulated all committee memberships and duties
• Approved changing board meetings to every other month (4-3)

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The State Board of Private Security Examiners will hold a meeting that includes a discussion of the process to investigate possible ethics violations previously presented by former board attorney Ron Crouch. No votes or decisions are scheduled; the agenda is otherwise procedural with call to order, roll call, pledge, and public comment.

• Discussion of process to investigate possible ethics violations previously presented by prior board attorney Ron Crouch

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Executive Secretary Search Committee met to discuss the procedure for finding a new executive secretary. The agenda included a call to order, roll call, and an opportunity for public comment on this search process.

• Discussion of process to search for new executive secretary

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Finance Committee will review and discuss current financial reports. The board will also discuss the dollar amount of overtime paid to the two most recent executive secretaries.

• Review and discussion of current financial reports
• Discussion regarding overtime pay for two recent executive secretaries

State Board of Private Security Examiners

This special meeting of the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners includes an executive session to discuss the professional competence and character of Executive Secretary Bridgette Hull, and whether to continue or terminate her employment. Following the closed session, the board will consider appointing a committee to search for a new Executive Secretary.

• Executive session to discuss character, competence, and health of Executive Secretary Bridgette Hull
• Possible termination or continuation of Executive Secretary position
• Appointment of a committee to search for a new Executive Secretary

The Board unanimously voted to terminate Bridgette Hull as Executive Secretary. Stephanie Richardson was appointed as the Interim Executive Secretary. A search committee was established to find a permanent replacement.

• Terminated Bridgette Hull as Executive Secretary (8-0)
• Appointed Stephanie Richardson as Interim Executive Secretary (8-0)
• Appointed search committee for new executive secretary consisting of Ritchie Rivers, Edward Robinson, Sr., Mark Leto, Sr., Chief Scott Ford, and Lameika Washington

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners is meeting for its quarterly board session. The agenda includes a financial update, a field enforcement committee update, and an executive session for a legal update. No specific decisions or proposals are listed; the meeting appears procedural.

• Financial Update
• Field Enforcement Committee Update
• Executive Session for legal update by Lameika Washington

The Board voted to replace the SAGE accounting program with Quickbooks. Additionally, the Board approved the hiring of five contractor Field Enforcement Inspectors to operate throughout the state.

• Approved implementation of Quickbooks and monthly subscription fee to replace SAGE accounting program (6-0)
• Approved addition of 5 contractor Field Enforcement Inspectors throughout the state (6-0)
• Approved motion to move Executive Session up in agenda order (6-0)
• Approved motion to enter Executive Session (6-0)
• Approved motion to exit Executive Session (6-0)

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners holds a special meeting to conduct hearings, receive committee updates, and vote on the board attorney contract for 2022–2023 and the upcoming fiscal year budget. The agenda includes a hearing for Kevin O'Neal/NOLA Security Ops and a legislative committee update on removing Statute 37:3295.

• Hearing for Kevin O'Neal/NOLA Security Ops
• Board attorney contract for 2022–2023
• Budget approval for upcoming fiscal year
• Legislative committee update on removing Statute 37:3295 based on Attorney General Opinion 98-213(A)

The Board approved the 2023 budget and a $50,000 contract for the board attorney. It also voted to remove a nullified section of Statute 37:3295. A license application for Kevin O’Neal was denied due to a lack of required consecutive industry experience.

• Removed 6(A) from Statute 37:3295 (6-0)
• Approved board attorney contract at $50,000 for next fiscal year (6-0)
• Approved proposed 2023 budget (6-0)
• Adopted 2022 budget as amended by Faulk & Winkler (6-0)
• Denied Kevin O’Neal's application for security company owner license (5-0, 1 abstention)

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners will hold a regular quarterly meeting to discuss and potentially decide on recognizing firearms training completed before background checks are finished. Other agenda items include introductions of new legal counsel and a new CPA firm, clarification on third-party fingerprint vendor vetting, and committee recommendations on cease-and-desist procedures, staff management, and company audits.

• Board decision on recognition of firearms training prior to background check completion
• Discussion and decision on policy interpretations being communicated statewide via email/newsletter
• Introduction of new CPA firm Faulk & Winkler LLC
• PPG Committee recommendation on cease-and-desist procedures requiring board member sign-off
• Recommendation to audit 3 years of payroll records for companies with violations

The Board approved the hiring of legal counsel and adopted new protocols for cease-and-desist orders and company audits. It also updated budget allocations and user access for the Boards and Commissions online system.

• Approved hiring Celia Cangelosi as legal counsel at $225/hour, not to exceed $20,000 (8-0)
• Approved new Cease-and-Desist procedure requiring specific Board member sign-off (8-0)
• Approved staff management protocols regarding payroll, staffing, and WAE approval (8-0)
• Approved company audit protocol to review three years of payroll records (8-0)
• Approved removing Fabian Blache and Stephanie Richardson and adding Lameika Washington to online user access (8-0)
• Approved adding $20,000 for legal fees to the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget (8-0)
• Approved striking agenda item #7 regarding third-party vendor vetting (8-0)
• Approved referring firearms training background check and policy interpretation discussions to the Training Committee (8-0)

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners will hold a special meeting to discuss the character and professional competence of its legal counsel, Wayne “Ron” Crouch, and to take action on legal services, including the possible termination or retention of counsel. The board will also vote on forming a Finance Committee and a General Committee, and on removing and replacing the executive secretary.

• Discussion of character, professional competence, or physical/mental health of legal counsel Wayne “Ron” Crouch, possibly in executive session
• Action on termination, retention, or hiring of legal counsel to support the executive secretary and board
• Formation of Finance Committee and General Committee
• Removal and replacement of the executive secretary

The Board accepted the immediate resignation of attorney Wayne “Ron” Crouch and directed the Ethics Committee to investigate allegations of withheld information. The Board also established several new committees and deferred a discussion on company audit procedures.

• Accepted resignation of counsel Wayne “Ron” Crouch (8-1)
• Directed Ethics Committee to investigate if information was intentionally withheld from board members by attorney or Executive Secretary (9-0)
• Directed Ethics Committee to investigate qualifications of all board members (9-0)
• Motion to remove Executive Secretary Bridgette Hull for cause failed (no second)
• Deferred discussion on standard audit payroll record requirements to Policy, Procedure and Governance Committee (8-1)
• Required that any action to revoke a company license or issue a cease-and-desist order be brought before the board (9-0)
• Populated Finance, General, Ethics, and Policy, Procedure and Governance committees

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners will hold a special meeting to discuss and possibly take action on professional services, nominate a new board chairman, and review a letter from the Inspector General's Office regarding Executive Order JBE 2016-75. The board will also review payroll records for staff members Bridgette Hull and Shanna Bourke from February 2021 to March 2022, as well as February 2022 financials. An executive session is scheduled for reports on two EEOC claims.

• Discussion and action on professional services to support the board and executive secretary
• Nomination and vote for new board chairman
• Discussion of Inspector General's Office letter regarding Executive Order JBE 2016-75
• Review of payroll records for Bridgette Hull and Shanna Bourke (Feb 2021–Mar 2022)
• Executive session for reports on two EEOC claims

The Board appointed a new Chairperson and established an Ethics Committee to investigate a report of impropriety. The Board also designated the Chairperson to approve weekly payroll for the Executive Secretary and unclassified positions.

• Nominated Lameika Washington as Board Chairperson (6-0)
• Removed item 5 regarding professional services from the agenda (8-0)
• Appointed Board Chairperson as designee to approve weekly payroll for Executive Secretary and unclassified positions (8-0)
• Formed Ethics Committee chaired by Mr. Rivers with members Mr. Wilbur and Mr. Robinson (8-0)
• Directed Ethics Committee to investigate a report of impropriety received by the Board attorney (8-0)
• Approved motion to enter executive session (8-0)

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners is holding a special meeting via Zoom. The agenda includes an executive session for updates on legal matters and a CPA update. No other substantive items are listed.

• Executive session to discuss legal matters with Mr. Joiner
• Executive session to receive CPA update from Executive Secretary

State Board of Private Security Examiners

The Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners will hold its regular quarterly meeting, discussing and potentially approving draft amended statutes. The board will also receive updates on training, budget questions for the agency's CPA, and a disclosure of talks with State Police regarding fingerprints, ImageTrend, and audit/vetting. Additionally, a recently discovered Firearms Training Instructor Exam will be discussed.

• Discussion and approval of draft amended statutes
• Questions for agency CPA Devin McCraney on budget updates
• Disclosure of talks with State Police concerning fingerprints, ImageTrend, and audit/vetting
• Discussion of recently discovered Firearms Training Instructor Exam
• Legislative and training committee updates

The Board approved rewritten wording for licensee qualifications under La R.S. 37:3276, including new requirements for principal offices and FBI background checks. The Board also approved the budget and a schedule for receiving monthly financial reports.

• Approved previous quarterly and special meeting minutes (7-0)
• Adopted rewritten wording of La R.S. 37:3276 regarding licensee qualifications (8-0)
• Approved the budget (8-0)
• Approved emailing monthly financials to all members on the 20th of every month (8-0)