Portland leaders debate whether new ethics commission should cover city and school employees

Portland held a joint workshop of the City Council and Board of Education to revisit an ethics commission ordinance required by voters in Charter Question 8 and to clarify who the commission would cover.

Outside counsel Jim Catsafikas, an attorney at Perkins Thompson representing the city, told both bodies that voters approved a charter amendment requiring the council to establish an ethics commission and later adopt a code of ethics. "In November of 2022, the Charter Commission, proposed to the voters, and the voters accepted ballot measure ballot question 8," Catsafikas said, explaining that the charter change is located in Article 8 and directs the city to create an ethics commission ordinance first, and then a code of ethics the commission would administer.

Why the debate matters: the workshop centered on whether the commission should adjudicate complaints involving employees who are already covered by existing personnel policies, collective bargaining agreements and constitutional employment protections — specifically the city manager, corporation counsel, city clerk and the school superintendent. The draft…