Council tables three resolutions, refers employee-gift policy to finance committee

The Lancaster City Council voted unanimously to table three resolutions and sent them back to the finance committee on a motion by Finance Chairman Council Member Harris, after a public comment urged the city to tighten its policy on employees accepting gifts.

Mr. Abster, who identified himself as the city's finance director during public comment, told the council the city's prior policy — which prohibited employees from receiving gifts, discounts, rewards or gratuities in their official capacity — more effectively avoided the appearance of impropriety. "It is imperative that the city keeps the faith of our citizens and eliminate any possible perception of impropriety in the awarding of contracts or other interactions with our vendors or any other entities," he said.

Council Member Harris, identified in the meeting as finance chairman, moved to table the three resolutions and refer them to the finance committee and the administrative committee (or an ad hoc committee) so staff and committee members could review the current administrative policy and the prior policy. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Council Member Harris, Council Member Hood, Council Member Marsh and Mayor Deini recorded as voting yes.

The council did not identify the three resolutions by number or provide a schedule for the finance committee review during the session. The referral means committee members will examine whether the existing policy and the case-by-case approval approach create perceptions of favoritism and whether a stricter, written prohibition should be reinstated. No change to the city's administrative policy was adopted at the meeting.

The finance committee will review the referred resolutions and policy language; the council did not set a date for that committee review during the work session.