Committee forwards revisions to Richland County ethics ordinance; proposes five-member citizen panel

The Richland County Finance Standing Committee voted March 13 to forward proposed revisions to the county ethics ordinance (Ordinance 23-6) to the full county board.

Mr. Windle (staff member) told the committee he used the Iowa County ordinance as a starting point and incorporated preferences expressed by the committee. The draft would establish an ethics board composed of five members and one alternate; at least one member must be an attorney or have comparable training. Members may not be county employees or county officials nor receive a majority of their income from the county during their term. Appointments are to be made by the Committee on Committees with confirmation by the county board.

Committee members asked for additional clarifying language and agreed to remove remaining references that would make the board responsible for employee matters; the committee intends the panel to review elected officials and wider matters of county governance while employee disciplinary complaints remain in a separate personnel process. Members also asked that the ordinance require the ethics board to meet at least annually and “as needed” so the panel can receive training and maintain readiness.

Supervisor Turk moved and Supervisor Cooley seconded forwarding the draft ordinance to the full county board; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. Staff said they will remove lingering references to employees and add the annual-meeting language before preparing the county-board packet.