HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda_Ethics_09.17.2019Notice of Meeting for the
E thics Commission
of the City of Georgetown
September 17, 2019 at 6:00 P M
at City Hall Community Room - 808 Martin Luther K ing Jr. Street
T he C ity o f G eorgetown is c o mmitted to c ompliance with the Americans with Dis ab ilities Ac t (ADA). If yo u
req uire as s is tanc e in participating at a p ublic meeting d ue to a disability, as d efined und er the ADA, reasonable
as s is tance, ad ap tatio ns , or acc o mmo d ations will b e provid ed up o n req uest. P leas e contac t the C ity S ecretary's
O ffic e, at leas t three (3) d ays p rio r to the s cheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or C ity Hall at 808 Martin
Luther King Jr. S treet, G eo rgeto wn, T X 78626 for ad d itional info rmation; T T Y us ers route thro ugh R elay
Texas at 711.
Regular Session
(T his R egular S es s ion may, at any time, be rec es s ed to c o nvene an Exec utive S es s ion for any purp o s e
authorized b y the O pen Meetings Ac t, Texas G o vernment C ode 551.)
A C all to O rd er -- R o b yn Dens mo re, C ity S ec retary/Board Liais o n
B Elec tion o f the O ffic ers of C hair, Vic e C hair and S ecretary -- R obyn Dens mo re, C ity S ec retary/Bo ard
Liaison
C R eview and dis c us s ion of the c urrent Ethic s O rd inance -- R obyn Dens mo re, C ity S ec retary/Bo ard
Liaison and S kye Mas s o n, F irst As s is tant Atto rney
D Disc ussio n regarding p o s s ib le future agend a items -- R o b yn Dens mo re, C ity S ecretary/Board Liais on
Adjournment
Mo tion to Adjourn the Meeting.
Ce rtificate of Posting
I, R obyn Dens mo re, C ity S ec retary for the C ity of G eorgetown, Texas, do hereb y certify that this Notice of
Meeting was p o s ted at C ity Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. S treet, G eorgeto wn, T X 78626, a p lace readily
acc es s ib le to the general p ublic as req uired by law, on the _____ day of _________________, 2019, at
__________, and remained so p o s ted fo r at leas t 72 c o ntinuo us hours prec eding the sc heduled time of s aid
meeting.
__________________________________
R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Ethics Commission
September 17, 2019
S UB J E C T:
C all to O rd er -- R obyn Densmore, C ity S ec retary/Bo ard Liaison
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
N/A
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Ethics Commission
September 17, 2019
S UB J E C T:
Electio n o f the O fficers o f C hair, Vice C hair and S ec retary -- R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary/Board
Liais o n
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
N/A
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Ethics Commission
September 17, 2019
S UB J E C T:
R eview and d is c us s io n o f the current Ethic s O rdinanc e -- R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary/Board
Liais o n and S kye Mas s on, F irs t Assistant Attorney
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
NA
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
AT TAC H ME N T S:
D escription Type
2018 Ethics Ordinance Backup Material
Ethics Review Pres entation Pres entation
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THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN
ETHICS ORDINANCE REVIEW
3.07.2019Page 19 of 32
CITY OF
GEORGETOWN
ETHICS
ORDINANCE
CHAPTER 2.20
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
Applies to:
o Mayor
o Council Members
o City Manager
o City Secretary
o City Attorney
o Members of City Boards, Committees, and
Commissions
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
DECLARATION OF POLICY
City officials shall
Lead the City with a commitment to the preservation of
the values and integrity of representative local
government and a dedication to the promotion of
efficient and effective governing.
Comply with and are expressly subject to all local
ordinances, policies and procedures.
Be independent, impartial and responsible.
Not permit any interest, financial or otherwise, to
conflict with proper discharge of their duties.
Strive at all times to avoid even the appearance of
impropriety
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
PURPOSES
To establish high ethical standards in official
conduct by City Officials
To establish guidelines for ethical standards of
conduct for all City Officials
To require disclosure by City Officials of private
financial or other interest in matters affecting the
City
To provide discipline for violations
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C ITY E THICS ORDINANCE
W HAT IS N OT A LLOWED -G ENERAL
Disclosure of confidential information obtained through the
Official’s position for gain or advantage
Use of the Official’s position or any City-owned facilities, supplies,
equipment, or resources for gain or for a political campaign
Appearance before the same body of which the Official is a member
to represent the Official or others
Acting as surety for a person or entity that has a contract with the
City or as surety on any bond required by the City for a City Official Note: this is a Class A Misdemeanor under state law
Asserting prestige of office for purpose of advancing private
interests
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C ITY E THICS ORDINANCE
G IFTS
Unlawful to solicit or accept any gift offered or given to influence City Official or given in consideration of favorable decision in the past
A Gift includes a favor, hospitality or economic benefit in excess of $50.00 of value
Does not include gifts received on account of friendship or kinship or anything received by will or inheritance
If you receive gifts in excess of $2,000 value within the past 12 months when travelling as a guest, you must file disclosure of those with the City Secretary.
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
You may not take any action on a matter involving:
Your outside employer or your family member or
household member’s outside employer;
Business entity if you or family member:
Owns 5 % or more of voting stock in business; or
Owns $5,000 or more fair market value in the business; or
Receives more than 10% of gross income from that business.
Real property if you or family member has equitable or
legal ownership.
Person or business entity if you or family member solicited
or received and did not reject a good faith offer of
employment in past six months.
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS
Any person who is related to a City Official as spouse including
a domestic partner or as any of the following, whether by
marriage, blood, or adoption:
parent, child, siblings, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew,
grandparent, grandchild, parents-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparents, stepchildren, step son-in-law,, step daughter-in-law, step-siblings, half-siblings, brother-in-law or sister-in law
Any person living in the same single-family residence,
apartment or other separate living quarters with the City
Official is a member of the household.
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Rule of Necessity. If conflicts of interest would result in
a lack of a quorum, members must disclose their
conflicts publicly but may discuss and take action on the
matter.
Exceptions.
Ownership of an interest in a mutual or common investments
fund
Service by the City Official in non-profit or charitable
organization
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IF YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Disclose –fill out the affidavit form attesting to the conflict
Refrain –from participating in the discussion or vote on the matte
Abstain –recommend leaving the dais/table at the beginning of the item and not returning until all discussion and action on that matter has been completed and the next matter is called
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CITY ETHICS ORDINANCE
SANCTIONS
If the Ethics Commission determines a violation occurred
o A letter of notification -when the violation is clearly unintentional
o A letter of admonition -when the Commission finds the violation is minor
o A letter of reprimand -when the Commission finds a intentional violation has been committed
o A letter of censure -when the Commission finds that a seriousviolation has occurred or repeated violation has been intentionally committed
City Council receives letters issued by the Commission
Commission may recommend suspension or removal of Council-appointed Officials from office if warranted
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Ethics Commission
September 17, 2019
S UB J E C T:
Dis cus s io n regard ing possible future agenda items -- R obyn Densmore, C ity S ec retary/Bo ard Liaison
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
N/A
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Ethics Commission
September 17, 2019
S UB J E C T:
Motio n to Ad jo urn the Meeting.
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
N/A
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
R o b yn Dens more, C ity S ecretary
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