Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Complaints And Closed Sessions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ethics Commission conducts closed sessions on complaints and ED search; reports dismissals and two settlement approvals
Summary
The commission moved several complaint matters and the Executive Director search into closed session on Oct. 26, 2015; upon reconvening it reported unanimous dismissals for two matters and approved settlement agreements for two complaint files, which will be posted to the commission website.
At its Oct. 26 meeting the San Francisco Ethics Commission voted to take multiple agenda items into closed session: Item 3 (a complaints matter under the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code), Item 9 (four complaints or complaint groupings) and Item 10 (the appointment of a new executive director). The commission conducted the closed sessions and, upon returning to public session, reported outcomes where permitted under the Sunshine Ordinance.
Earlier in the meeting, after hearing public comment on Item 3, the commission voted to hear that matter in closed session (motion carried unanimously). The commission followed the same procedure for Item 9 (complaints) and Item 10 (executive director appointment), explaining that the full commission would receive resumes and that full‑commission interviews were scheduled for Nov. 13, with Nov. 20 held as an alternate date.
When the commission reconvened in open session it recorded the dispositions it could lawfully disclose. Two matters were reported as dismissed. The commission also announced the approval of settlement agreements for two complaints: ethics complaint number 08-150311 and complaint number 12-150609 (transcribed as 'Twelve-one50609'); acting staff said the settlement documents are public and would be posted to the commission’s website.
On the question of public reporting of closed-session details, the commission twice took motions in public session to withhold detailed disclosure beyond the permitted dispositions. Commissioners voted to withhold further details for Item 3 and later for Item 10; both nondisclosure motions carried unanimously.
Separately, commission members and public commenters discussed procedural points about reporting the outcomes online and the public’s interest in timely disclosure. A public commenter requested that any decisions posted later to the website be reported at the meeting when practicable; commissioners said they would disclose the dispositions publicly to the extent consistent with law.
The meeting record shows the commission completed the executive‑director search work plan for full‑commission interviews to occur in November, but the commission did not disclose candidate names or the detailed deliberations from closed session.
