The City of New Orleans Ethics Review Board has announced it will hold a meeting in the City Council Chambers at City Hall on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Among the agenda items for discussion are routine monthly reports and, notably, a discussion and vote on salary adjustments and the implementation of new restrictions on appointments for the Independent Police Monitor, according to the City of New Orleans.
Salient on the agenda is the approval of minutes from the board meeting on November 3, 2025, and an array of monthly reports including those from the Office of Inspector General, the Office of the Independent Police Monitor, the Ethics Trainer, the General Counsel, and the Executive Administrator. Notably, discussions and a vote are scheduled to take place regarding salary adjustments for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of the Independent Police Monitor, with an eye to improving the alignment in terms of compensation for these critical oversight roles in the city's ethical framework, as reported by the City of New Orleans.
In a move that resonates with the current Inspector General (IG) ordinance, the board will also deliberate on a recommendation for the City Council to amend the Code of Ordinances with new "restrictions on appointment" for the Independent Police Monitor. These proposed restrictions aim to mirror those already in place for the Inspector General, preventing recent city officials from being appointed to the role directly after their service. As outlined in the City of New Orleans, before the prospective amendment, "a former or current elected official or employee of New Orleans city government...may not be appointed inspector general within four years following the end of such individual's period of service."
These discussions take on greater significance when considering the autonomy and integrity required by individuals in these positions to perform their duties without conflict of interest. Not only are these roles indicative of the high ethical standards New Orleans strives to uphold but, the rules surrounding their appointments are a bulwark against cronyism and guarantee that those who wield the responsibility of oversight are committed exclusively to the welfare of the public and the fortitude of impartial justice, as per the City of New Orleans.
Additionally, the board will enter an executive session to address investigative proceedings concerning allegations of misconduct, relating specifically to ERB Complaints No. 2025-07 and 2025-08. Details of these discussions are to remain confidential with pertinent materials being made available to board members under strict privacy protocols. The meeting is set to conclude following these sessions with an adjournment.
