By Tiffany Flournoy
CULLEN — The Town of Cullen council approved most agenda items Monday without recorded motions or seconds, and the meeting agenda, which was posted on a Saturday, may not have complied with Louisiana’s open meetings law, raising questions about how decisions were brought before the council and how the public was notified.
All agenda items presented for a vote were approved unanimously, 3–0. Alderwomen Barbara Green and Bianchi Veal were absent. Alderwomen Floydean White, Yolonda Castleman and Denise Epps‑Hoof were present and cast the votes.
Under standard parliamentary procedure, a motion and second are typically required to formally place items before a governing body for discussion and a vote. No such motions or seconds were recorded for most items approved during Monday’s meeting, meaning the matters were acted on before the council formally considered them — a step that helps ensure transparency and a clear public record of decisions.
Among the items approved was the hiring of Amberlee Nix, an attorney with the law firm Bradley and Murchison, as the town’s legal counsel. The council also approved, in the same manner, the hiring of UnTracy Brittentine as town clerk. Brittentine has served as the town’s assistant clerk since October.
The council approved a measure limiting municipal police officers to no more than 30 hours per week, a move Mayor Terry Hoof said is intended to avoid paying retirement contributions on behalf of officers due to financial woes. The town currently employs one police officer and a police chief. That item was likewise approved without a formal motion or second.
In addition, the council approved the use of a new time-clock application to track employee whereabouts and work hours while on the clock. Officials acknowledged that some Town Hall employees had already been using the application before the matter was officially brought and voted on by the council. The police department will also now be expected to use the system.
Brittentine said the town will not provide devices, instead employees will use the work-related application on their personal mobile devices.
During the meeting, officials also introduced a proposed water rate adjustment. A hearing on the matter is slated for the next regular council meeting on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m., Hoof announced. An introduction of the proposed budget for July 2026 through June 2027 was also announced.
Monday’s meeting agenda reflected a posting date of Saturday, Jan. 31, but some town officials said they did not receive their meeting packets until Sunday, Feb. 1. Under Louisiana law, written notice must be provided at least 24 hours in advance, excluding weekends and legal holidays. The posting should have been made on Friday, Jan. 30, no later than 6 p.m., meaning the actual posting may not have fully complied with statutory notice requirements.
Brittentine confirmed to the Webster Parish Journal on Tuesday that council members did not receive their meeting packets until Sunday. She also said she was unaware that the state’s 24-hour agenda notice requirement excludes weekends. It also excludes certain holidays. The packets were delivered by a town water operator.
Alderman Barbara Green said her packet was left wedged in the exterior door of her kitchen.
The issue arises as the town remains under ongoing public scrutiny, with questions repeatedly raised about adherence to procedural requirements, public notice standards, and transparency in municipal government.
Alderman Denise Hoof, the mayor’s spouse, led an off-agenda discussion over police salaries and the department’s $5,900 in 2025 collections, while Police Chief Fannie Rankin noted a cruiser had remained uninsured part of that year.
Cullen’s previous town attorney resigned last year after the town failed to pay him, according to officials. Nix said the town will be required to pay $10,000 upfront to retain new legal counsel with Bradley and Murchison because of ongoing legal issues plaguing the municipality.
(Editor’s note: According to officials, Town of Cullen is under Roberts Rules of Order. Visit https://robertsrules.com/ ).