2006-10-11 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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Board of Ethics Minutes - Regular Session October 11, 2006 Ms. Sharpless said that she would like the items to reflect the County Code ,'verbatim." She said if we are not going to follow the State disclosure, then she would like our Disclosure Form to reflect, verbatim, the County Code. If we interpret, or make it simpler, we change the standard by which someone could be judge by this. She would like to see the County Code actually quoted within the Disclosure form. Ms. Leithead agreed some portions of the County Code that have been left out of the Disclosure form. By quoting the Code it will make it easier for people to understand what it is that they need to do. Mr. Joseph wanted to know what happens when you have a person on a board or commission who blatantly refuses to complete a disclosure statement. Ms. Leithead -Todd referred to the County Code which states that a penalty could be in order. The appointing authority has the power to discipline. If a candidate fails to file a disclosure they can be fined a $1,000 penalty and one year imprisonment. If a board member (officer) refuses to file then their appointment could be revoked. The disclosure is a duty of your appointment. The secretary of the Board of Ethics is maintaining a database that reflects the date that all Board members have filed their disclosures. The chair suggested that the secretary call the board secretaries of the delinquent members. If the board member refuses to submit a disclosure then we should let the appointing authority know. If we still receive no response the Board of Ethics secretary will compose a letter for the chair to sign and it will be forwarded to the board secretary for action. Ms. Sharpless asked if we needed to add these functions into the Board of Ethics rules of practice and procedures. If oversight of the compliance of the Ethics Code is a function of this committee, then we will have a process for enforcement. Motion and Vote: Ms. Sharpless moved to thank Ann Lum for her diligent work on the revised financial disclosure form and requested that the form be edited, as directed by Bobby Jean Leithead -Todd, to include the exact wording of the County Code for Items 1 thru 9 and change the financial coding up to one million dollars. Ms. Lum seconded the motion; all members voted aye; motion carried. Motion and Vote: Ms. Sharpless moved to request that the issue of compliance with our Financial Disclosure rules and form be place on the next meetings agenda under new business in terms of review of our Rules of Practice and the Board's role in recordation, review, and compliance. Mr. Joseph seconded the motion; all members voted aye; motion carried. 7