HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Ethics Ad Hoc Committee 02.26.2018Minutes of a Meeting of the
Ethics Ad Hoc Committee
Of the City of Georgetown, Texas
Monday, February 26, 2018
The Ethics Ad Hoc Committee met on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 6:00 PM in
the Main Floor Conference Room of City Hall, 113 E. 81" Street, Georgetown,
Texas. All members were in attendance, with the exception of Peggy Moore.
Bob Glandt, Jerry Lawhon, Kelly McClennahan, Camarie Perry, Tim Smith, Paula
Trietsch Chaney and Cass Wheeler were present.
REGULAR SESSION
A. Call Meeting to Order - Tim Smith, Chair
Chair, Tim Smith, called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
B. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the
meeting held January 29, 2018 - Tim Smith, Chair
Smith asked the Committee if they had any discussion regarding the draft
minutes from the January 291" meeting.
Motion by Wheeler, second by Glandt to approve the minutes.
Approved: 7-0 (Moore absent)
C. Discussion, consideration and possible action regarding recommendations
to the City of Georgetown City Council on amendments to the City of
Georgetown Ethics Ordinance - Tim Smith, Chair
City Attorney, Charlie McNabb, provided the Committee copies of a draft
ethics ordinance. He explained that the draft included the direction the
Committee had given at their January 29, 2018 meeting to start with the
old ordinance 2012-09 and insert their recommended changes taken from
Chapter 171 and the Ethics Ordinance from the City of Sugarland.
McNabb noted that the language highlighted in yellow represented
direction from the Committee that was already included in the old
ordinance 2012-09. He explained that the underlined language in the draft
represented language added at the Committee's direction.
The Committee reviewed the draft ordinance in detail and also reviewed
and held discussion regarding comments and suggestions made by City
Councilmembers.
The Committee's recommendations for sanctions and violations were
discussed. Discussion took place on a violation constituting a
misdemeanor punishable as provided in the Code.
The degree of consanguinity was discussed. The Committee
recommended using a 2nd degree of consanguinity and asked the City
Attorney to research definitions of a family member. It was suggested to
change the language to "Spouse or Domestic Partner". The Committee
also asked McNabb to look into step family, step relative, and step
children language.
Consistency in the ordinance was discussed. It was discovered that
language in the Ethics Commission bylaws was not consistent with the
language in the ethics ordinance. McNabb said he would check both for
any conflicts or inconsistencies and bring his findings to the Committee at
the next meeting. He noted that he will make sure the terms are
consistent throughout.
Discussion took place on abstaining from voting and filing a conflict of
interest affidavit. McNabb said that filing a conflict of interest in order to
abstain was in the Council Procedures, as well as the ethics ordinance.
The Committee reviewed a Conflict of Interest form and asked that the
language in the Ethics Ordinance require that one must file a Conflict of
Interest affidavit in order to abstain from a vote. It was determined that
the language added from the Sugarland ordinance took care of any issues
of not being able to take action when a quorum was not met because of
conflicts.
Motion by Trietsch-Chaney, second by Wheeler, to require City Officials,
as well as Boards and Commissions members, to file a conflict of interest
affidavit if abstaining from a vote.
Approved: 7-0 (Moore absent)
The Committee discussed gifts to City Officials. They determined that
setting a specific amount would remove ambiguity. An amount of $25
was agreed upon. City Officials would not be permitted to receive a gift
of $25 or greater.
Motion by Glandt, second by Trietsch-Chaney to set the gift amount for
City officials at $25.
Approved: 7-0 (Moore absent)
Discussion followed regarding preventing former City Councilmembers
from seeking employment with the City or petitioning the City Council or
Boards and Commissions for a period of 2 years. McNabb noted that this
refers more to a lobbying ordinance. The Committee asked McNabb to
pull language from other city ordinances as they find this to be
appropriate.
The Committee spoke about the appointment of members to the Ethics
Commission. Discussion included the intention to have a member from
each district in the City in order to have full representation for all. The
Ethics Commission bylaws were examined for language, as well as the
ordinance. Discussion followed about a Councilmember being able to
appoint a member outside of their district, if unable to find a willing
member inside their district. City Attorney, Charlie McNabb, said he will
look into this and synchronize the bylaws with the ordinance. He will
bring any changes to the Committee at their next meeting.
Discussion began on "Abuse of Power" and "Unfair Advancement" as
suggested for discussion from a City Councilmember. The Committee
determined that they were unclear on the intention and asked the City
Secretary to clarify this with the City Councilmember for discussion to
continue at the next Ethics Ad Hoc Committee meeting.
D. Discussion regarding future agendas and meeting dates and times - Tim
Smith, Chair
The Committee set the next Ethics Ad Hoc Committee meeting for
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 6:00 PM at City Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Trietsch-Chaney, second by Wheeler to adjourn the meeting.
Chair Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:01 PM.
Approved by the Ethics Ad Hoc Committee
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