(a) The Board or City Clerk may choose to ask for an investigation; to do this, it may temporarily employ or contract with investigators and require investigation by city staff assigned to the Board or by the Office of Inspector General upon acceptance of the complaint, or upon evidence or belief of fraud or a violation of the Charter. The Board or City Clerk shall direct and limit the scope and nature of all such investigations. No such investigation shall be undertaken unless it is specifically authorized and defined by the Board or City Clerk. For the purposes of this section, the term "allegations" means both any formal charges filed with the Board or City Clerk or initiated by the Board or City Clerk and other information raising a substantial question related to compliance with the Code of Ethics, the Open and Ethical Election Code, or the Election Code. Such investigation may relate to violation of the Code of Ethics, the Open and Ethical Election Code, or the Election Code.
(b) In retaining an investigator, the Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices shall not be bound by procedures of the City of Albuquerque which would otherwise apply to selecting a contractor or employee. The Board shall adopt its own procedures, consistent with good administrative practices.
(c) All officials and contractors of the City of Albuquerque shall furnish the Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices or its investigator with requested information and records within their custody which are germane to an investigation authorized by the Board. Officials and contractors may be required to appear as witnesses in hearings concerning ethics or campaign practices charges heard by the Board.
(Ord. 31-1989; Am. Ord. 34-2006; Am. Ord. 2022-042)