The Denham Springs City Council met Monday for just over an hour, spending 42 minutes in executive session to discuss pending litigation against the city.
Robert Morgan has filed a lawsuit in federal district court alleging city police violated his civil rights. Under state law, discussions of pending litigation may be held in closed session, although no formal action may be taken until the governing body returns to open session. The council voted to enter executive session and later voted to return to open session in accordance with the law.
In his lawsuit, Morgan claims police came to his home and confronted him “without probable cause.” No further details of the incident or the lawsuit were immediately available.
In other business, the council held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for the city’s Conference Center Economic Development District. The TIF district would allow future tax increments to be used to help finance infrastructure projects.
With no one appearing to speak for or against the ordinance, the public hearing was closed and the council voted unanimously to adopt the measure, creating the TIF district on Rushing Road.
The council also unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to schedule a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the city’s Zoning Commission ordinance affecting two-family/duplex residences. The amendment was requested by Jose Montenegro of 123 Cockerham Road.
The public hearing on that request is scheduled for the council’s Dec. 22 meeting.
