City says public records request necessary for Cressy’s resume, information
Other 2 applicants’ resumes were already made available for download in June, but not Cressy’s
MANDEVILLE — Nicholas Cressy was named as the appointee to the Planning and Zoning Commission to replace outgoing commissioner Nixon Adams whose term expires August 31st. The confirmation vote is set for the August 24th City Council meeting.
Two other Mandevillians — Ann Haveman and Pat Rosenow — submitted their applications for consideration to replace Adams.
The resumes of Haveman and Rosenow — redacted to remove personal information such as their home addresses — were made available for download on the City of Mandeville’s website in June as part of the June 8th regular meeting packet.
However, Cressy’s resume was not part of that packet and has not appeared in any other packets for download. What’s more, the City is now apparently telling the voters they must file a public records request in order to receive it.
At tonight’s meeting (August 10th), when asked by a citizen if more information on Cressy would be made available to the public — there has been none so far — City Attorney Elizabeth Sconzert said there is a section of the law that requires a public records request to be made in order to see the information. Perhaps she is referring to Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 44:1, also known as the Louisiana Public Records Law.
The law “requires that the name, related qualifications, relevant employment history or experience of each applicant for a public position of authority or a public position with policymaking duties shall be available for public inspection, examination, copying, or reproduction…”
But considering that the other two applicants’ resumes were already made available on the city website, having been properly redacted, it is unclear why the same thing has not been done for Cressy nor why the city attorney is suggesting citizens must take legal steps to force the city to provide the information that the law so plainly says they must provide, and that they already provided via download for the competing applicants without anyone having made public records requests for those.
Before 2020, the City of Mandeville used to make this information available on the city website without having to make such requests. In fact, the City makes a host of information, which is covered by the Public Records Law, freely available for viewing or download on the City’s website and without the public having to submit public records requests.
For example, copies of proposed ordinances and resolutions are not required to be posted in advance of meetings… only notice of the meeting date, time and place along with a detailed agenda. Yet, the City of Mandeville provides proposed ordinances, resolutions, and so-called meeting packets for download in advance and without anyone having submitted a public records request.
Councilman at Large Jason Zuckerman said they would contact Cressy and ask him if he didn’t mind releasing his information.
The City Council’s appointment process provides that the Council Chairman — in this case Councilman at Large Jason Zuckerman — makes the appointment after meeting with one of the district council members to discuss the matter. That name will be appointed at the specified regular meeting for discussion among the council members.
The Comprehensive Land Use Regulation Ordinance (CLURO) reads: “An appointment [to the Commission] shall be made, by the Council Chairman, subject to majority approval of the Council, for any vacancies.” This was amended by the City Council in 2022, changing the basic procedure, where before it read, “They [Commission members] shall be appointed and confirmed by a vote of the Council.”
The confirmation vote on the nominee will occur at the August 24th regular meeting, at which time the public will have an opportunity for comment. If a majority of the City Council does not agree, the nomination process repeats until the council can agree on a new commissioner.
There are seven Planning and Zoning commissioners and they are limited to two consecutive seven-year terms each, according to the City Charter.
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Mandeville Daily 
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