Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance Recommendations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ethics board to consult state on proposed local ordinances defining covered individuals and conflicts
Summary
Board members discussed two draft local ordinances that would revise the definition of covered individuals and add a local prohibition on doing business with the city; staff will consult the Florida Commission on Ethics before proceeding.
Members of the City of Tallahassee Independent Ethics Board reviewed proposed local ordinances April 15 that would change who qualifies as a 'covered individual' under the city ethics code and would add language regarding city employees soliciting employment or business that conflicts with city duties.
Board members and staff described two draft ordinances numbered in briefing documents as 24-ORD-03 (definitions of covered individuals) and 24-ORD-04 (doing business with the city/conflicting contractual or employment relationships). Ethics Officer Dwight Floyd and other staff said they met with the city attorney, who flagged potential issues about whether proposed local language would be consistent with or stricter than state law; the board agreed to consult the Florida Commission on Ethics for guidance.
A primary concern discussed was whether clerical or support employees who perform routine tasks (for example, copying and distributing bid materials) might be swept into the definition of 'covered individual' and thereby be subject to gift bans or other restrictions intended for higher-level decisionmakers. Board members said the city attorney shared the concern and that additional guidance from the state commission could clarify whether the local ordinance could be more or less stringent than state law in particular circumstances.
The board also discussed including the inspector general in the definition of public official and whether to retain or remove the city auditor from that list for clarity. On the proposed 'doing business with' language, members debated whether a duty to disclose an offer of employment or contractual relationship should be imposed on city employees; some members questioned whether the local code should exceed state requirements or could create unintended obligations.
The board directed staff to consult the Florida Commission on Ethics and the commission's deputy executive director and general counsel, then return with recommendations. No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the matter remains under review.
