2007-10-10 Board of Ethics Minutes mc

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CHAIR: We have a motion. MALANKA: I second. CHAIR: And we have a second. We are now open for further discussion. DILL: I just wanted to share. Last month I didn't vote in favor of continuing an investigation, because at the time I felt we might have been over- extending our limitations on what we can rule on, especially since this was a Board - initiated investigation. However, I was looking a little bit more closely at our meeting last month and some of the accompanying documents for this meeting, and I kind of had a change of heart. My feelings reflect a lot of what Lincoln says, that our duties and positions do have a lot more —a higher standard of behavior. Essentially what it came down to was putting myself in the shoes of both parties, and if I was the letter writer and felt very adamantly about something, is this the right avenue to take, and ultimately it was no, for my position as (inaudible). So I just wanted to share my background, of where I'm coming from. CHAIR: Thank you, John. L UM: Thank you because I was not necessarily in favor of the whole thing, but I do think it's the wrong avenue -- that it was the wrong way to do it. And I actually think that Laurie that she really made the point of it could have been on a personal basis, not thrown out there (inaudible) the impression that she leaves about a business which I know nothing about. But that it belonged in a different venue. MALANKA: And I agree. I'm on a learning curve in terms of being with the Board, but I certainly know that, as a person in business, I can't go off half - cocked or unprepared or any other way you want to put it. But when you bring you know, the words that Ann pointed out, the Planning Department, the Planning Commission you start throwing that in there, and forget the fact that you were rude. You actually did start involving somebody else. It's as though she was speaking for them and with that position. I can't do it, she can't do it. So it's the right avenue. LCM: I would like our opinion to reflect that aspect of it. CHAIR: Well, I think first we would have a vote, and then we can discuss how we want the opinion. Correct? ASHIDA: Mr. Chairman, thank you. You know, your agenda has been posted for some time. It met the Sunshine Law requirements in this matter. It was publicly noticed to be heard today. As you know, last time last month, when this was heard, Ms. Siracusa was specifically notified by mail and she voluntarily elected to come last time. She did provide witnesses and had her day in court, so to speak, and in my opinion was afforded due process. For today's meeting, she was not specifically requested to attend, only because the Board does not have that authority unless the resolution passes. And because the resolution didn'tpass until earlier today, the Board was without authority to demand her presence before the Board. So these are your options. You can continue to, on this matter, vote on it today, because like I said, I believe she 13