Committee recommends change to Germantown ethics code to limit membership to residents and adopt percentage vote threshold

The General Government & Finance Committee recommended adoption of an ordinance amending section 1.064 of the Germantown Municipal Code that would (1) remove language allowing nonresidents to serve on the ethics board and (2) replace a fixed 4-to-1 voting requirement with a percentage-based threshold tied to actual membership.

Village Attorney Sajak said the changes grew out of a complaint and a subsequent review of the code. He told the committee that allowing nonresident members on the ethics board is "fairly unusual" for that type of body and that the fixed numerical vote requirement is problematic when vacancies, absences or conflicts require abstentions. "The specific number becomes problematic in two ways," Sajak said, then explained the fixed 4-to-1 rule could prevent the board from taking action when fewer than five members are present. He said the revised language would require a three-quarters vote of members present, rounded up, and would account for vacancies.

Trustees asked how the change would affect boards in other communities and whether districts could be used to appoint members; Sajak offered Mequon as an example where district appointments help reduce vacancies. Trustee Jan Miller asked who monitors vacancies; Sajak said appointments are initiated by the Village President with board confirmation, and encouraged trustees to suggest volunteers. The motion to recommend adoption was made, seconded and carried.