NEW ORLEANS - Following the adjournment of the Joint Committee meeting yesterday, a Committee of the Whole meeting was held, during which members discussed Orleans Parish School Board payments and the Emergency Contract for Sanitation Services.
Update Regarding Orleans Parish School Board Payments
Regarding payments due to the Orleans Parish School Board by the City, a motion for a new trial was filed, which includes a motion to stay, and Judge Nicole Sheppard has not yet ruled on it. As such, until Judge Sheppard has made a ruling, it would not be appropriate to send any payments.
Committee Discusses Emergency Contract for Sanitation Services for Area 5
The Committee of the Whole spoke with the parties involved in the Emergency Contract for Sanitation Services for Area 5 regarding contract errors, inconsistencies, and the overall timeline of events surrounding the contract signing. The parties questioned included New Orleans Director of Sanitation Matt Torri, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño, Interim Deputy CAO for the Office of Business and External Services Austin Wilty, and others.
After Councilmember King read through emails to narrow down the timeline of events, several Council members raised concerns regarding the contract signing process and the signing itself.
Councilmember Harris noted that, as of July 31, 2025, there is currently no party that will assume responsibility for sanitation services in the Downtown Development District of Service Area 5. Torri indicated that, in this situation, the Sanitation Department would seek out daily independent contractors for the area, paying approximately $20,000 to $30,000 a month. Certain services would also likely cease, such as curbside recycling, mechanical street sweeping, and evening litter collection.
Council President Morrell and Vice President Moreno identified contractual errors in the signature lines and noted a missing signature on the surety bond page, both of which raised serious concerns for the Council. Council President Morrell also emphasized that the new emergency contract would cost the City $2.1 million more than the original contract, despite fewer services being provided.
In the interest of clearing up any further timeline discrepancies and inconsistencies, Council President Morrell insisted on receiving copies of the original document in hand by 12 PM on July 22, 2025.