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Council and ethics commissioners debate adding "teeth" to ethics ordinance, including possible fines
Summary
Commissioners said the current ordinance limits sanctions to notification, admonition or censure (Ordinance 2.05.006). Council members asked counsel to research whether the commission can impose monetary penalties or whether ordinance or charter changes would be required.
The commission reviewed the sanctions section of the ethics ordinance and discussed whether the city should give the commission stronger enforcement tools beyond letters and censure.
"Right now, the ordinance today, the most severe thing that we can do as the ethics review commission is censure you and notify the Taylor Press," Chair Cheryl Stewart said, reading the current range of remedies but flagging that other cities assess monetary penalties.
Council members noted legal constraints and asked that commission counsel research whether administrative fines or withholding pay would be lawful or would require a charter amendment. One council member proposed that any fine be appealable to council to preserve checks and balances.
Participants agreed the next step is research: the commission's counsel should provide a clear list of enforceable options, plus whether changes should be pursued by ordinance or via a charter amendment to make powers more durable.
