LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish Library Board of Control held a special meeting Monday, December 8, to consider employee pay adjustments, banking designations for the newly hired library director, and a legal matter discussed in executive session.
The first item of new business involved a request from the board’s attorney concerning former Library Director Michelle Parrish. The issue stems from the board’s decision earlier this year not to renew Parrish’s contract, a move that followed a lengthy and contentious meeting. The board’s handling of that action later resulted in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, which concluded with the board agreeing to undergo additional training on open meetings law and proper procedures governing motions, votes, and board conduct.
However, Parrish has filed her own lawsuit against the library system for wrongful termination. The first agenda item was a discussion regarding a new letter from Parrish's attorney, which was handled in Executive Session. No details of the discussion were released, and no action was reported following the closed-door meeting.
The board then unanimously approved a resolution appointing newly hired Library Director Na’Chel Shannon as bank designee and treasury manager for the Livingston Parish Library with Hancock Whitney Bank, effective January 1, 2026.
A separate resolution to add incoming 2026 Board President Jonathan Davis as a bank designee, also effective January 1, 2026, was also approved.
Board members next turned their attention to employee compensation, voting unanimously to amend the 2026 fiscal year budget to include a 3% cost-of-living increase for all library staff. Prior to the vote, a salary study was presented comparing Livingston Parish library pay rates with those of neighboring parish library systems. Board members said the study was intended to ensure the proposed increase aligned with regional norms.
The board also discussed commissioning an updated salary scale for all library positions, citing discrepancies identified in the study and ongoing concerns about employee turnover. No final action was taken on the salary scale during the meeting.
During the discussion, board member Trey Cowell cautioned against attempting to match pay levels in higher-funded parishes without accounting for key differences. Cowell noted that some of the library systems used in the comparison benefit from larger populations, higher property values, and more substantial industrial tax bases, allowing them to generate greater revenue with lower millage rates. He said any future adjustments should reflect Livingston Parish’s fiscal realities while still addressing staff retention and pay equity concerns.
