By Paige Nash
A few others from the Town of Arcadia have found themselves in hot water over improper use of Covid-19 payments received in 2021. This time it includes Arcadia’s mayor, O’Landis Millican and a few other of the town’s elected officials. Arcadia was among many municipalities that received emergency funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) during the pandemic. The Town of Arcadia received $499,301 in August 2021 and $813 in November 2021, totalling $500,114.
Following the release of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s (LLA) report on Monday, May 15, the LLA listed improper incentives to town officials, unbudgeted expenses, emloyees paid for hours not accured and violations for open meeting laws, among the findings of this investigative audit.
The mayor responded to the LLA in a letter explaining that the town has initiated corrective action towards the findings listed in the auditor’s report. He said, “The town is committed to implementing each recommendation included in the report. We welcome this opportunity to better serve our citizens and meet the highest standards for local government.”
Upon furher investigation the LLA reported that Millican is in violation the Local Government Budget Act as well as the Lawrason Act by making payments towards unbudgeted and unauthorized salary increases to elected offices, including the Town Clerk, Chief of Police, Council Members and other town employees. These salary incentive payments totalled $53,000. This decision was made without a council-appoved budget or the passing of an ordinance approving the pay increase.
In his response letter Millican said, “Since we met with the Auditor’s staff, the Town has established a seperate bank account for the remaining ARPA funds to better ensure the funds are only used for proper expenditures.” The mayor stated that he has repaid the ARPA funds he receieved and they are working to recover the remaining money that was paid to other town officials.
The Town of Arcadia has a policy in place that allows 40 hours of sick leave and 24 hours of vacation for employee’s who completed a two month probation period upon hiring. After six months of employment they earn 40 hours of vacation. The town’s payroll records showed three employees used 80 hours of sick leave, 32 hours of vacation and 8 hours of personal leave that were not earned from Jan. 1, 2019 through June 10, 2022. The value was $2,110. Findings indicate that two new employees also received leave before they began accruing it per the town’s policy.
According to the LLA, Millican authorized payments to two seperate vendors for expenses that were also not included in the budget for repairs and maintenance to town property. The expenses were deducted from multiples funds including the general fund, water and sewer, parks and recreation, mall and street funds, and totalled $1,075,075. The Town of Arcadia did not have a contract with either of those vendors.
Millican reportedly told the LLA that he along with the Town Council met for “working meetings” in November of 2021 and either January or February of 2022. The alleged meetings were public, but the town could not provide proper written minutes. The mayor indicated that notices for the meetings were posted on the door at the Town Hall, but did not publish the notice in the town’s offical journal.
Mayor Millican has reportedly met with the Town Attorney and together they are taking steps to ensure that all future meetings and special meetings will be properly noticed and held in accordance with the Open Meetings Law.
The LLA provided a list of recommendations for the mayor and Town of Arcadia. To view the full report, along with documentation and Mayor Millican’s response letter visit: https://app.lla.state.la.us/publicreports.nsf/0/3588f5162bd80490862589ab0070f281/$file/000021aa.pdf?openelement&
The next scheduled regular meeting for the Town of Arcadia is June 13.