Council postpones action on ethics complaint after independent review finds no ethics violations

The Orting City Council on Sept. 24 paused final action on an ethics dispute after an independent legal review concluded the complaint did not allege violations of the council’s ethics policy. The memorandum, provided to the council by an attorney from Lighthouse Law Group at the council’s request, said “none of the allegations against deputy mayor Koenig, even if true, are sufficient to constitute a violation of the Orting City Council’s code of ethics.” The council then voted to postpone formal disposition of AB 25‑85 to the Oct. 8 meeting and to obtain further legal counsel before any referral to a hearings examiner.

The Lighthouse Law Group review, read into the record at the meeting, examined allegations raised in a complaint filed Sept. 8 by Council Member Chris Moore. The report stated it was retained because the city attorney was named in the Moore complaint and the city sought an independent reviewer. The memo evaluated the alleged conduct against Orting City Council Policy 2017‑004 and relevant state…