HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Ethics Commission - 06/08/2009 1
MINUTES OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION JUL 2 3
• 2009
City of Corpus Christi, Texas
5:30 p.m., June 8, 2009 C/Ty SECRSTARys OFFICE
Legal Conference Room—5th Floor
City Hall— 1201 Leopard
At 5:30 p.m., a quorum was present and the meeting was called to Order by
Chairperson Cramer.
Roll call was taken and the members present were: James R. Cramer, Robert N.
Corrigan, Rebecca Esparza, Linda Figueroa, Joseph Guzman, Harlan Heitkamp and
Rick Marcantonio.
Excused absences were requested by Laura Hebert.
City Attorney Mary Kay Fischer was present.
The Commissioners reviewed the minutes from the May 28, 2009 meeting and the
minutes were approved unanimously.
The Public Hearing was open and City Attorney Fischer gave the members an overview
of all the state law requirements relating to Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure under
Local Government Code Chapter 171, 176, Government Code Chapter 572 and the
City's Ethics Ordinance.
Because the Ethics Commission thought it would be most effective to work from the
Ethics Ordinance in effect prior to the May 12 changes, they chose to note their
recommended changes to that document.
City Attorney Fischer reviewed the draft ordinance that was prepared as a result of the
Commissions' recommendations from the prior meeting. There was a change made to
the Preamble, and an additional phrase was added to (7) under"Conflicts of interest".
The members agreed that the "Provision for board members" which states that board
members shall not have a substantial interest in any contract with the city in which your
board or commission, or the city department related thereto, has jurisdiction, should
remain in the Ordinance. The Commission agreed to use the definition "Economic
benefit" instead of"Economic Interest" and to keep the expanded definition of"Relative"
as in the previous Ordinance. The definition of"Substantial interest"was also expanded
to include the state law definition, and the "Duties" were expanded to require Ethics
Commission review of all proposed changes to this Ordinance and make
recommendations to City Council before being placed on a City Council agenda for
action. The Report of Financial was also changed to reflect the expanded definitions of
Substantial interest and a provision was added to require all reporting officials to list all
contracts with the City of Corpus Christi, including the date, term, type of good or
services provided and the amount of the contract.
SCANNED
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A motion was made to finalize the draft ordinance and a memorandum to submit to the
Mayor advising him of the recommendations of the Ethics Commission.
No one was present for Public comment.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.
J mes R. Cramer
hairperson
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