2006-10-11 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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Board of Ethics Minutes - Regular Session October 11, 2006 compare to the State form. It would be easier if there was one procedure that fit both situations. Ms. Lum indicated that the problem occurs because the State Code differs from the County Code regarding spouses and dependant children. As a result spouses and dependent children have been eliminated from the County instructions. The County Code says "yours or another person(s)." The State Code says "you, spouse, dependant children," so the codes are different. Ms. Sharpless said that she feels the forms should be exactly the same. If it requires a change the County Code, then we should do that. She would like the wording on the State form and on the County form to be exactly the same. Mr. Joseph said that he liked the simplified County form better. It is easier to look at, and easier to fill out. The State form is too formal and condescending. The County form is much simpler. Ms. Kendall said that she thinks this is serious business. She thinks the people that complete this form are not stupid. People with million dollar homes know exactly what this means. People these days are more sophisticated and if they don't know the meaning of something before they fill it out, then they should find out what it means. Mr. Joseph thought that the purpose of this discussion was to simplify the process. Mr. Williams said that it was primarily to make it consistent, uniform, and understandable. Ms. Sharpless said that Lincoln's goal was not to discourage people. There was to be no lowering of the bar to make it easy. There is no sugar coating on this. The standard remains high, and to conform to the standard everything needs to be the same, not necessarily user friendly. Ms. Lum agreed with Mr. Joseph. She was trying to take the State wording and put it into the County form, line by line, and still keep the form cleaner looking with less wording on it. Ms. Leithead -Todd indicated that she likes the County form better. Ms. Lum has eliminated some redundancy. She liked Items 2 and 3, where the same wording was contained within a box. It makes it easier to follow, and the bigger type is easier to read. The State has smaller type. It is, basically, the same wording. Ms. Lum said she will double check the wording so that we are consistent with the County Code. She asked if the members liked the opening quote from the Constitution. It was agreed to be a nice touch because it is the source, and why we have a Code of Ethics. Ms. Lum will try to make it more like what the State says in the form boxes, and then give the draft to Ms. Leithead -Todd for review. 31