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Council reinstates state statutes in city ethics code via Ordinance 15-20-25
Summary
Ordinance 15-20-25 passed unanimously to add five state statute sections (official misconduct, bribery, ghost employment, conflicts of interest, profiteering) back into Valparaiso's municipal ethics code so the published code matches the 2006 ordinance.
The Common Council unanimously approved Ordinance 15-20-25 to update the city's ethics ordinance so that five state statute sections originally listed in the city’s 2006 ethics ordinance are included in the published municipal code.
Council members explained the change is largely housekeeping: the five referenced statutes were included in the 2006 ordinance but did not appear in the published online code. The ordinance explicitly lists the short titles of the sections restored to the municipal code: official misconduct, bribery, ghost employment, conflicts of interest, and profiteering from public services.
Council discussion clarified the distinction between ethical standards and criminal law. Several members said ethics review remains separate from criminal prosecution; the municipal ethics board has authority to refer matters to the Porter County prosecutor when conduct may exceed local code. One staff member said portions of the municipal code can be more restrictive than state law on certain gifts and honoraria, and the ethics board's referral authority remains intact.
The clerk called the roll for final vote; Ordinance 15-20-25 passed 7–0 on second reading.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 15-20-25 — Approved, 7–0.
