HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Ethics Commission - 12/09/2010 MINUTES
Ethics Commission
City of Corpus Christi, Texas
5:30 p.m., December 9, 2010
Legal Conference Room-5th Floor
City Hall- 1201 Leopard
Chairman James Cramer called the meeting to order, then called the roll. The following members were
present:
James R. Cramer, Chairperson
Melvin Bohannon
Ken Bung
Haysam Dawod
Jennifer Dragoo
Harry Hallows
Bill Strawn
The following members were absent:
Linda Figueroa, Vice-Chairperson
Laura Hebert
First Assistant City Attorney Jay Reining was present.
The Legal Department did not receive any Supplemental Ethics Financial Disclosure Reports prior to the
meeting, and therefore the reports were not reviewed.
The Commission initiated it review of Rules of Conduct in the City's Code of Ethics(Division 1, Article V,
Chapter 2, Code of Ordinances), as part of the review the following issues were discussed:
The need to make sure all ethics opinions by the City Attorney or assistants, even informal oral
opinions, are reduced to writing and made available to the Commission.
The conflict between the definition of substantial interest and the use of the term. Staff was
requested to provide a recommended correction.
The lack of clarity on when a City council member needs to refrain from discussing an issue in
which the member has a potential conflict of interest. Staff was requested to provide
recommended amends to address the issue.
Whether or not the Commission should be able to investigate potential violations of the rules of
conduct discussed in the media, when there is no formal complaint filed with the commission.
The need to greater clarity in the language used in the financial disclosure reports.
The Commission briefing discussed the preparation of Commission's Annual Report
There were no members of the public present, and no public comments were received.
_The ommission adjorned.
Jams R. Cramer
Chair•erson
EDSCANNED