Hanagriff: Welcomes AG opinion sought by FFH

By COLIN MURPHEY
The determination as to whether the St. Mary Parish president can sit on the Franklin Foundation Hospital board will soon be in the hands of the Louisiana State Attorney General, but the person sitting in office is not waiting for the decision to make his voice heard to the community.
St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff recently took the opportunity to respond to the FFH board’s effort to find a legal answer to his assertion, according to the parish charter, that he is in fact a non-voting member of the FFH board, and all parish boards. Hanagriff announced his membership on the board at a meeting in January, questioned by some board members at the time.
Since that FFH board meeting, there has been cooperation from the board and no mention of contesting his membership. That changed last week as the board announced their effort to consult the state attorney general as to whether Hanagriff has a right to sit on the board and be present when the group goes into executive session which is closed to the public and the press.
Until now, the FFH board had not contested Hanagriff’s assertion that he was a board member as the parish president and Hanagriff had been present at several board meetings and during executive sessions. Responding to the board’s effort to consult the state attorney general, Hanagriff said he was disappointed because he said the issue should have already been resolved.
“Originally, I was going to seek an attorney general’s opinion myself,” Hanagriff said. “However, when the board allowed me to enter executive sessions I backed off of that because what’s the point? At least four of the board members thought it was prudent that I attend the sessions and thought I should be involved.”
Hanagriff said, in his determination, his membership on the board was clearly defined in the state-sanctioned parish charter and the issue was resolved. He said the effort by certain members of the board to continue to try and challenge his membership and participation in hospital affairs was unfortunate and contrary to previous statements made in public by some board members including the board’s chairman.
Several board members including FFH Board Chairman Eugene Foulcard have, in the past, been vocal in meetings about welcoming Hanagriff on the board and his being present for executive sessions. That seemed to change last week as the board made public their effort to reach out to the state attorney general to determine if Hanagriff is, in fact, a board member.
“I’m disappointed because I had dropped the issue,” Hanagriff said. “To me, it was a non-issue after that point. If they want me there and want me to be in executive session, then what’s the point of seeking the attorney general’s opinion?”
Hanagriff said, while he was disappointed that the issue was still being investigated by the FFH board, he was confident that the state-sanctioned parish charter, which he said clearly defines his role as a board member, would be upheld. As far as the Louisiana State Attorney General’s opinion, Hanagriff said he was looking forward to the decision.
“I welcome it,” Hanagriff said. “I feel like it’s going to be in my favor. So, hopefully we will find out what is going on. But, I am disappointed. Why would you want to seek an attorney general’s opinion if they are okay with me being in executive session? So, we will see how it works out.”
The timeline for when the state attorney general might render a decision was not immediately available.