Lance Joseph steps down after plea agreement required resignation, three days after heated town hall confrontation
PORT ALLEN – Port Allen Chief Administrative Officer Lance Joseph resigned Thursday amid mounting legal pressure and public criticism, ending months of controversy over both his criminal case and his responsiveness to residents.
Joseph’s resignation comes as West Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony Clayton had filed a motion in late August requesting that Joseph’s sentence be amended to include his resignation as a condition of probation, noting that Joseph was still in his CAO position despite a March plea agreement that required him to step down.
The resignation occurred just three days after Joseph faced sustained public criticism at a September 8th town hall meeting, where residents complained they couldn’t reach him by phone to address basic city services.
Criminal Case Background
Joseph was charged in February with “filing or maintaining false public records” after claiming residency in Port Allen for his 2024 mayoral campaign while maintaining a homestead tax exemption on a Plaquemine property as his primary residence since 2006. Louisiana law requires the tax exemption to be claimed only on your actual primary residence.
On March 18, Joseph negotiated a plea agreement where he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice. According to court documents, “the plea agreement was predicated on the defendant resigning from his position as the City Administrator with the City of Port Allen.”
However, by late August, Joseph remained in his CAO position, prompting District Attorney Clayton to file a motion requesting that Joseph’s sentence be amended to require resignation as a condition of probation. The DA warned that if Joseph didn’t comply, his original felony charge could be reinstated.
Town Hall Confrontation
The resignation also follows pointed criticism from multiple residents during the city’s September 8th town hall meeting, where citizens complained they couldn’t reach the CAO by phone to address basic city services.
“If you can’t get in touch with him, he’s not doing his job,” one resident told Mayor Terecita Pattan during the meeting. “We can’t get in touch with him. He’s not really performing.”
Multiple residents described similar experiences: unreturned phone calls, consistently full voicemail boxes, and an inability to get responses on issues ranging from stop signs blocked by vegetation to sewer problems.
The confrontation became heated when one resident was interrupted while speaking. “I always get an answer from the mayor always gonna answer me,” the resident said. “You cannot tell me what I can say.”
Another resident questioned why the city would need to hire additional staff: “It’s that we need a CAO who’s doing his job, who’s answering the phone calls… and if he’s not doing his job, then why is he here?”
During the meeting, one resident directly asked Mayor Pattan: “If you’re charged with a crime, can you hold a city position?” The mayor responded that the city had “had those instances before” where people “were charged and did jail time and still held different positions.”
Mayor’s Previous Defense
During the September meeting, Mayor Pattan defended Joseph while acknowledging the communication problems. She explained that he was often “out in the field” helping with various tasks and suggested the solution might be hiring an assistant.
“That’s why I wanted [an assistant] with the duties… because I’m not going to go and babysit and follow anyone else to be honest,” Pattan told residents.
The mayor had previously requested approval for an assistant CAO position, but the council rejected the proposal 3-1, with some members questioning whether an assistant was needed if the CAO wasn’t fulfilling basic job requirements.
At one point during the town hall, Mayor Pattan admitted: “Do I think the job he’s doing is perfect CAO position? No, I don’t.”
Civil Lawsuit Against City
Complicating matters further, Joseph had filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the City of Port Allen in November 2024, seeking $500,000 in damages for alleged racial and gender discrimination in employment practices.
The lawsuit claimed Joseph was required to assume additional responsibilities supervising the Department of Public Works without additional compensation, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Operational Questions
The resignation raises immediate questions about city operations and service continuity during a critical time for Port Allen. The CAO position oversees multiple departments and serves as the primary point of contact for many resident concerns.
Port Allen faces several major infrastructure challenges, including a planned $15 million sewer treatment plant replacement over the next five years. During the town hall meeting, Mayor Pattan mentioned ongoing negotiations for land acquisition for the new sewer plant.
The mayor has not announced plans for interim leadership or a timeline for replacing Joseph. When contacted Thursday evening about the resignation, Pattan said she was “told not to give a comment at this time” regarding specifics.
Background Context
Joseph had served as Port Allen’s Chief Administrative Officer since May 2020. His tenure was marked by both the criminal charges related to his residency claims and ongoing complaints from residents about accessibility.
The combination of legal troubles and public criticism created mounting pressure that ultimately led to his departure from the position he was required to vacate months earlier under his plea agreement.
The next Port Allen City Council meeting is scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM in City Council Chambers.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Story at WBRIndependent.com
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