By JIM BUTLER

Rainy day records reading:

Local banker Daniel Lonsberry has resigned as member/president of the Central Louisiana Regional Port Board of Commissioners.

That July 15 action is noted in minutes of a special board meeting held last Friday, July 19. No reason is stipulated, no discussion was noted. He was recently promoted to a regional manager’s position at his financial institution.

The board’s regular July meeting was not held July 16. According to a notice posted Friday morning that meeting will be at noon July 31.

Of note at the special meeting the board went into closed session “to discuss a sensitive matter as it pertains to legal representation for CLRP.”

“A sensitive matter” is not enumerated in the state’s public meetings act as a permissible reason for executive session though that could be open to interpretation.

A half-hour later the open meeting resumed with Vice President Terry Spruill reminding commissioners of confidentiality regarding the private chat.

Commissioners then voted to approve Executive Director Ben Russo seeking additional legal representation if needed by contacting the Legal Committee.

At the meeting outset the board approved changes to the executive director job description, changes described as previously discussed.

The only non-port person listed as in attendance at the 7:30 a.m. special meeting was State Sen. Jay Luneau.

Whether his appearance was a routine “update” visit or was related to the agenda is not apparent, nor is whether he was in the executive session.

The senator is not listed as making any comments during the open meeting.

Linkage between the various elements, if any, is not apparent in the record.

It may be random intersection of circumstances.

Commissioners attending were Paul Coreil, Haywood Joiner, Gil McKee, John Scott, Basil Smith and Spruill.