HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Ethics Commission - 02/18/2016 Minutes of the Ethics Commission Meeting on February 18, 2016
ACM Conference Room-5t" Floor City Hall— 1201 Leopard Street
The meeting was called to order by Chair Dr. Haysam Dawod at 5:30.
1. Roll Call. Present: Chair Dr. Haysam Dawod; Vice-Chair Karon Connelly, Alicia Benavidez, Ken
Bung, Harry Hallows, Drue Jones, Larry White and Rod Wolthoff. Absent: Rick Milby. City Staff
in attendance: Assistant City Attorney Lisa Aguilar.
2. Review and approval of February 18 2016 Minutes. A motion to approve minutes was made
by Rod Wolthoff, second by Ken Bung. All in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
3. Discussion and possible action regarding hiring independent legal counsel pursuant to Code
of Ethics Section 2-327. The Commission was presented with two recommendations for an
attorney to serve as independent legal counsel.The Commission reviewed information regarding
attorney Bill Chriss and attorney Paul Dodson. The item was tabled to get more information for
next meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Motion passed.
4. Review "Improving the Ethics Code" powerpoint report by Jon Mureen with discussion and
possible action on amendments to the City Code of Ethics;
The Commission discussed the sections of the Mureen report dealing with the following topics:
Special Privileges, Private Interests, Outside Employment; Confidential Information, Former
Officials, and Lobbying. The following motions were made:
The Commission reviewed the recommendations of the Mureen report regarding Special
Privileges. Ken Bung made motion, second by Karon Connelly, to delete Section 2-311(4) of the
City Code of Ethics which currently reads: "Unless you are a council member, you shall not use
the prestige of your position with the city on behalf of any political party of cause." All in favor.
Motion passed.
Harry Hallows motioned to add "Do not acquire an interest in, or be affected by, any contract,
transaction, zoning decision, or other matter, if the official or employee knows, or has reason to
know, that the interest will be directly or indirectly affected by impending official action by the
City." Discussion regarding rewriting the proposed language. Motion withdrawn. The
Commission discussed having Rod Wolthoff propose language and also discussed that this
provision was similar to another item previously proposed and recommended by the
Commission. City staff to provide copy of the previously approved recommendations to next
meeting.
The Commission reviewed the recommendations of the Mureen report regarding Private
Interests and also Outside Employment. No action taken.
The Commission reviewed the two recommendations of the Mureen report regarding
Confidential Information: 1) Do not use official position to obtain information about a person
other than for performing official duties; and 2) Do not disclose confidential information relating
to City affairs that you obtain through your position. Karon Connelly motioned to adopt both
recommendations, Drue Jones second. All in favor; none opposed. Motion passed. The
Commission further directed to incorporate definition of"confidential government information"
from the San Antonio Ethics ordinance and also to delete current Section 2-311(26) which
currently reads: "As an employee, you may not violate the confidentiality or privacy of an
individual, including a juvenile and adult defendants or detainees or juvenile clients being
counseled through a city program, unless it is to seek emergency assistance or consultation
services from within the city's program or school campus; the individual has threatened to harm
themselves or others; or to provide details of any criminal activity or enterprise."
The Commission reviewed the Mureen report recommendations regarding Former Officials, to
have a continuing duty of confidentiality. Motion by Rod Wolthoff, second by Alicia Benavidez
to adopt this recommendation, incorporating definition of "confidential government
information." All in favor; none opposed.
The Commission reviewed the Mureen report recommendations regarding Lobbying. Harry
Hallows made a motion, second by Larry White, to prohibit person from registering as a lobbyist
for two years from end of service as City Council or City employee. Five in favor(Haysam Dawod,
Alicia Benavidez, Harry Hallows, Larry White, Rod Wolthoff), one opposed (Karon Connelly), two
abstained (Drue Jones, Ken Bung). Motion passed.
Motion by Karon Connelly,second by Drue Jones,to table review of the remainder of the Mureen
report until March 17 meeting. All in favor; none opposed. Motion passed.
5. Discussion of concerns with or requested changes to the City's Code of Ethics. None.
6. Discussion and possible action regarding Ethics Commissioners length of term.
The Commission reviewed their term information for each Commissioner; discussed City Charter
restriction to six consecutive years of service unless required to fill an unexpired term; City
ordinance which established a three-year term of service for the Ethics Commission. The
Commission discussed benefits to allowing a Commissioner to serve longer than two three-year
terms. The Commission discussed current City Charter review and requirement of voter approval
for Charter amendment. Karon Connelly made a motion, second by Rod Woltfhoff to amend the
City Charter and ordinance to extend maximum terms for Ethics Commission to three three-year
terms of office. All in favor; none opposed. Motion carried.
7. Public Comment. There was no public comment.
8. Identification of next Ethics Commission meeting. The next meeting will be March 17, 2016.
9. Identification of items to be placed on the next meeting's agenda: independent legal counsel;
Mureen report.
10. Adiournment. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:10.
The foregoing minutes of the meeting of the Ethics Commission were approved on March 17, 2016, by the
Ethics Commission.
By: ,
Dr. Haysam Dawod, Chairperson