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Commission and council discuss investigatory scope and advisory opinions under charter and ordinance
Summary
Commissioners said the charter allows investigations and advisory opinions, but the ordinance lacks clear procedures. Council members asked for a clear set of procedures and standards of conduct so the commission's authority is not ambiguous.
Commission members said the charter permits the commission to conduct investigations on its own initiative and to issue advisory opinions, but the commission lacks concrete procedures and a broader standards-of-conduct section in the ordinance.
"It also says hire independent counsel," one commissioner said while reviewing charter language, adding that the ordinance does not spell out the procedural steps for investigations.
Council members and commissioners agreed that the ordinance's standards of conduct should be expanded beyond financial disclosures and conflicts of interest to include conduct that directly affects an official's public duties, such as misuse of confidential information. The group asked counsel to draft procedures for preliminary review, hearings, and possible referrals to municipal court when appropriate.
The commission will bring recommended procedures and clarified standards back to council for consideration after legal review.
