Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sanctions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission debates fines, recall and removal when ethics violations are severe
Summary
Members reviewed sanction options in the code — from admonition to fines and removal — and discussed whether repeated concealment or cover-ups should trigger stronger penalties such as removal or higher fines.
Commissioners reviewed the range of sanctions available under the code and debated how severe or repeated violations should be handled. The commission's code lists outcomes ranging from notification and admonition to fines, censure and a recommendation for removal of appointed officials.
Several members said the act of concealing misconduct can aggravate the offense. "To me, the cover up is equal to the original sin," one commissioner said, arguing that repeated deception should increase the severity of recommended sanctions. Members discussed both recommending recall for elected officials and recommending fines (participants referenced a figure of 115% in the transcript) as potential avenues depending on the facts.
The commission emphasized that recommendations for removal or recall would be rare and reserved for intentional, repetitious, and egregious conduct; members said they would prefer to assemble documentation and ensure a robust investigative record before recommending extreme remedies.
