Governor's office leaving Council on Aging in charge of its own investigation

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Becky Bergeron is the president of the Louisiana Council on Aging Director's Association. LACOADA meets three times a year to advocate for the elderly. The organization includes all 64 directors of council on aging groups from all parishes in the state. Members are watching the situation involving Plummer's will closely.

"It should be up to the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs to investigate the allegations," Bergeron said.

It is concerning to Bergeron and others, she said, since both Clark Amar benefits from the will drawn up by Jackson, who is also a council board member. The will stated that Clark Amar shall pay herself $500 per month for the next 20 years to act as a trustee over Plummer's estate.

"If a senior came to her in peril, and her response to that was to bring her to Southern University to have a will drafted," Tracie Davis, Plummer's granddaughter, questioned recently, "[Clark Amar's] response should have been to connect that senior with resources, assistance, or help to reach out to the family. She should be removed. If not for what she did, but what she didn't do."

The Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs holds the charter for Clark Amar's group, and all others across the state, and its the agency being asked to investigate the situation in Baton Rouge. In addition, the EBR Council on Aging falls under state ethics laws.

The Investigative Unit has learned around this time last year, LACOADA hosted an ethics training session for the 64 council on aging directors around the state. What they learned was clear, nothing of monetary value could be taken or accepted from their clients or seniors at their centers.

"Whatever we took - we could take a meal sitting face to face with them - but nothing you can monetarily walk away with," Bergeron recalled.

Bergeron said Clark Amar attended the training.

Bergeron said she and other council on aging directors disagree with Clark Amar's involvement in the will and added her actions have caused a blemish on the good work similar organizations perform around the state.

"I'm concerned about the negative impact it makes for the council on aging across Louisiana," Bergeron said. "Especially right before the legislative session."

In a statement provided to WBRZ Tuesday night, the governor's office says it will leave the investigation in the hands of the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging.

"The governor's office has no involvement and any decisions rest solely with the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging's Board that governs their operations," the statement read.

That means Dorothy Jackson, who drew up the will in question, will be a part of the governing body that makes a final decision in the investigation.

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