HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Ethics Commission - 04/10/2014 Minutes of the Ethics Commission Meeting on April 10, 2014
ACM Conference Room-5th Floor
City Hall—1201 Leopard Street
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dawood at 5:30.
1. Roll Call. All members of the Ethics Commission were in attendance. City Staff in
attendance:Assistant City Attorney Lisa Aguilar.
2. Review minutes. A motion was made by Karon Connelly to pass approval of the last meeting
until the next meeting of the Ethics Commission. Motion was seconded by Ken Bund. All in
favor; none opposed.
3. Discussion and possible action on pending ethics complaint. The Commission received a
copy of the pending ethics complaint filed on March 14, 2014 by Ms. Norma Rivera. The
Commission discussed procedures for threshold for review of an ethics complaint.
Mr. Hallows made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bung, to table any complaints until there was
discussion on establishing procedural rules and threshold for considering complaints.
Discussion regarding the motion continued. There was discussion regarding the last meeting,
when the topic of procedures was addressed and requested for the next agenda. Discussion
included topics of recusal, avoiding conflicts, how to determine threshold, developing checklist
for complaining party; jurisdiction of Commission, initial review of complaint by City staff,
whether allegations should be taken as true;three prong versus one prong test for review.
The motion passed 5 to 4, with Ms. Brown, Mr. Bung, Ms. Connelly, Mr. Hallows and Mr.
Wolthoff in favor, and Dr. Dawod, Ms. Benavidez, Mr.Strawn, and Mr.White opposed.
4. Public Comment. Mr. Strawn raised question of dealing with pending ethics complaint if
there is a pending criminal charge.
5. Identification of items to be placed on next meeting agenda. The following items were listed
for inclusion of the next meeting agenda:
• Discussion of procedures for accepting ethics complaints.
• Discussion and possible action on pending ethics complaint.
• Discussion and possible action regarding calendar of meeting dates.
The date for next meeting was identified as May 8, 2014. Follow-up discussion regarding item 3
that a letter would need to be prepared for the Chair's signature, to the complainant and the
person complained of,that the ethics complaint was tabled until the meeting of May 8, 2014.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10.
The foregoing minutes of the April 10, 2014 meeting of the Ethics Commission were approved
on by the Ethics C ission.
By:
Dr. Maysom Dawood, Chairperson