(A) There is hereby created a Board of Ethics which shall have the authorities, duties, and responsibilities as set forth in this ordinance to enforce the provisions of this ordinance.
(B) The Board of Ethics shall consist of nine (9) members who shall be appointed by the executive authority of each city and the county, with the county having three (3) appointees, the City of Bardstown having three (3) appointees, and the Cities of Bloomfield, Fairfield, and New Haven having one (1) appointee each, subject to the approval of the respective legislative body. No member of the Board of Ethics shall hold any elected or appointed office, whether paid or unpaid, or any position of employment with the city/county or any city/county agency. Two (2) of the County's appointments shall have a three (3) year term and the other shall have a two (2) year term. Two (2) of the City's appointments shall have a three (3) year term and the other shall have a two (2) year term. The Cities of Bloomfield, Fairfield, and New Haven appointments shall have three (3) year terms. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of three (3) years. No more than five (5) of the members shall be of the same political party. Each member of the Board of Ethics shall have been a resident of Nelson County for at least one (1) year prior to the date of the appointment and shall reside in Nelson County throughout the term in office. The members of the Board of Ethics shall be chosen by virtue of their known and consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge of local government affairs. The members may be re-appointed for any number of consecutive terms.
(C) A member of the Board of Ethics may be removed by the executive authority subject to the approval of the legislative body for misconduct, inability or willful neglect of duties. Before any member of the Board of Ethics is removed from office under this section, the member shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing before the executive authority and the legislative body.
(D) Vacancies on the Board of Ethics shall be filled within ninety (90) days by the executive authority, subject to the approval of the legislative body. If a vacancy is not filled by the executive authority within ninety (90) days, the remaining members of the Board of Ethics may formally petition the legislative body of the appointing authority to request that body to appoint a citizen to fill the unexpired term. All vacancies shall be filled only for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(E) Members of the Board of Ethics shall serve without compensation unless otherwise approved by the legislative body, but shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(F) The Board of Ethics shall, upon the initial appointment of its members and annually thereafter, elect a chairperson from among the membership. The chairperson shall be the presiding officer and a full voting member of the Board.
(G) Meetings of the Board of Ethics shall be held, as necessary, upon the call of the chairperson or at the written request of a majority of the members.
(H) The presence of five (5) or more members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of five (5) or more members shall be necessary for any official action to be taken. Any member of the Board of Ethics who has a conflict of interest with respect to any matter to be considered by the Board shall disclose the nature of the conflict, shall disqualify himself or herself from voting on the matter and shall not be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum.
(I) Minutes shall be kept for all proceedings of the Board of Ethics and the vote of each member on any issue decided by the Board shall be recorded in the minutes.
(Ord. 571, passed 1-19-95; Am. Ord. B2011-04, passed 4-12-11; Am. Ord. B2023-06, passed 5-23-23; Am. Ord. B2024-01, passed 1-23-24)