Board of Ethics expands staff; council advances ordinance allowing part‑time investigator pay

Lauren Akitake, executive director and legal counsel to the Board of Ethics, told the council on Sept. 26 that the board recently hired an assistant and an investigator under a DM‑89 emergency hire and that the additional staff have substantially increased the office’s ability to provide timely informal advisory opinions and intake for community complaints.

Nut graf: To match that staffing flexibility, the council passed Bill 129 on first reading to permit the Board of Ethics positions (investigator and administrative assistant) to be filled on a part‑time basis and paid on a pro rata basis.

Key points from testimony and discussion - Akitake reported 17 informal advisory opinions in eight weeks after staff additions, compared with one opinion in the month prior to her arrival. She said calls often involve educating callers about the board’s jurisdiction and directing them to the appropriate resource. - Akitake introduced her new assistant, Rissa Tam Ho, and investigator, Gail Raikes, and said a rules revision and survey of county and community needs are forthcoming. - Council moved Bill 129 (first reading) to amend county code to permit pro rata pay for part‑time investigator and assistant positions. The council voted to pass the bill on first reading; a second reading will be scheduled.

What it means: The ordinance change enables pay and appointment flexibility for the Board of Ethics so it can maintain investigative capacity without requiring full‑time hires. Akitake and the board cited immediate need for timely ethics guidance in the community and said the investigator role will be active and substantive.