Council adopts municipal ethics investigation ordinance on first reading, names city attorney liaison and deputy as alternate complaint recipient

The South Burlington City Council held a first reading on Jan. 6 of a municipal ethics investigation and enforcement ordinance crafted to comply with a new state municipal‑ethics statute that took effect Jan. 1.

City Attorney Colin McNeil told the council the legislature’s law requires municipalities to provide a procedure for receiving, investigating and enforcing allegations of violations. The city’s attorneys and staff worked with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to draft an ordinance consistent with the statute and with model language other municipalities are using.

Councilors voted unanimously to pass the ordinance at first reading and scheduled a second reading and public hearing for Feb. 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. The council also unanimously designated the South Burlington city attorney (the office) as the city’s liaison to the State of Vermont Ethics Commission and as the city’s designated complaint recipient, and named the deputy city manager as the alternate designated complaint recipient. McNeil noted that the city attorney may need to hand off any particular complaint to the alternate if the attorney has advised a person who later becomes the subject of a complaint.

The new state law also requires municipal officers and certain staff to complete training. McNeil said the state commission has posted an interactive training module; staff will return with a process to track who has completed required training and to schedule completion by the statutory deadline.