NEW ORLEANS — The resigning director of the Orleans Parish Communications District will continue in his post until at least next Tuesday after a two-hour long executive session ended with the board deciding it needed 72 workweek hours to do more fact-finding.
"The board recognizes the gravity of the current situation and needs additional fact-finding," said Chairman John Thomas once the group came out of executive session.
Councilwoman Helena Moreno, who has said Director Morris should be suspended during an investigation held to her previous decision.
"The facts and allegations of fraud are already publicly known and warranted at least a suspension while the additional inquiries run their course," Councilwoman Moreno said. "Delay only risks further malfeasance or obstruction and possible additional damage to OPCD as a whole."
Tyrell Morris has come under fire since WWL-TV reported that he was involved in an auto accident in a department vehicle on May 7 and that he did not follow the required procedures afterward.
The policy for a crash involving a department vehicle is for the driver of the vehicle to submit to a blood test for possible drug and alcohol use.
Morris did not follow that procedure and WWL-TV's David Hammer reported that Morris signed on when the document was altered to say that a drug and alcohol test was only needed if there was an injury in the crash.
Most members of the board did not comment following the meeting and announcement they would reconvene on Tuesday.
State Representative Aimee Adatto Freeman, who was invited to observe the meeting, called the executive session "serious" and said that she was confident that all involved had the city's best interest at heart.
"I appreciate the opportunity to sit in and I was able to listen. The deliberations were long and intense... I believe they’re on the right path to a strong decision," Adatto Freeman said.
"The board has to ensure continuous operations of this center, so obviously they are taking that commitment very seriously. From what we saw in the news reporting leading up to this, it was very concerning that documents had been modified and what happened during the accident was not truthfully retold, so I think the board is looking at all the facts," Rep. Stephanie Hilferty said.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell has said she does not plan to suspend Morris prior to his resignation date in September, citing that what they have thus far are just allegations and that Morris is an integral part of the city's safety plan during hurricane season.