(A) (1) The Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Authority and the Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Enforcement Committee are designated the authority and responsibility of enforcing the city’s Code of Ethics.
(2) The Mayor of the city is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the city’s Board of Commissioners an interlocal cooperation agreement as authorized by KRS 65.210 et seq. to allow the Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Authority and the Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Enforcement Committee. The interlocal agreement is attached to Ord. O-13-10 and incorporated by reference.
(1984 Code, § 36.40)
(B) The executive authority of the city, with the approval of the legislative body may appoint one alternate member of the Board of Ethics who may be called upon to serve when any regular member of the Board is unable to discharge his or her duties. An alternate member shall be appointed for a term of one year. Alternate members shall meet all qualifications and be subject to all of the requirements of this chapter that apply to regular members.
(1984 Code, § 36.41)
(C) Within the limits of the funds appropriated by the legislative body in the annual budget, the city shall provide the Board of Ethics, either directly or by contract or agreement, with the facilities, materials, supplies and staff needed for the conduct of its business.
(1984 Code, § 36.42)
(D) The Board of Ethics shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To initiate on its own motion, receive and investigate complaints, hold hearings and make findings of fact and determinations with regard to alleged violations of the provisions of this chapter;
(2) To issue orders in connection with its investigations and hearings requiring persons to submit in writing and under oath reports and answers to questions that are relevant to the proceedings and to order testimony to be taken by deposition before any individual designated by the Board who has the power to administer oaths;
(3) To administer oaths and to issue orders requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence relating to an investigation or hearing being conducted by the Board;
(4) To refer any information concerning violations of this chapter to the executive authority of the city, the city legislative body, the governing body of any city agency, the County Attorney or other appropriate person or body, as necessary;
(5) To render advisory opinions to city and city agency officers and employees regarding whether a given set of facts and circumstances would constitute a violation of any provision of this chapter;
(6) To enforce the provisions of this chapter with regard to all officers and employees of the city and city agencies who are subject to its terms by issuing appropriate orders and imposing penalties authorized by this chapter;
(7) To control and maintain all statements of financial interests that are required to be filed by this chapter and to ensure that the statements are available for public inspection in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the state’s Open Records Act, being KRS 61.870 to 61.884;
(8) To develop and submit any reports regarding the conduct of its business that may be required by the executive authority or the legislative body of the city;
(9) To adopt rules and regulations and to take other actions, as necessary, to implement the provisions of this chapter, provided that the rules, regulations and actions are not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter or any state or federal law;
(10) To provide training and education on the city’s Ethics Code to officials and employees;
(11) To prepare and submit an annual report and any recommended changes to this code to the legislative body and to develop and submit any reports regarding the conduct of its business that may be required by the executive authority or legislative body of the city;
(12) The Board of Ethics will annually review the list of officials and employees required to file annual disclosure statements, to determine whether the lists are complete and accurate. Within 90 days after it has been formed and, by February 1 each year thereafter, the Board of Ethics must:
(a) Cause to be filed with the City Clerk a list of the names and offices, or positions, of all officials and employees and others required to file annual disclosure statements pursuant to § 36.045 of this chapter; and
(b) Notify all such persons of their obligation to file an annual disclosure statement;
(13) The Board of Ethics will prepare forms for complaints and for financial disclosure statements, and will make these forms available at the City Clerk’s office and on the city’s website, for easy downloading; and
(14) By June is of each year, the Board of Ethics must review all annual financial disclosure statements filed with it to determine whether any person required to file such a statement has failed to file it, has filed a deficient statement or has filed a statement that reveals a possible or potential violation of this code. If the Commission determines that an annual or transactional disclosure statement is deficient or reveals a possible or potential violation of this chapter, the Commission will notify the person in writing of the deficiency or possible or potential violation and of the penalties for failure to comply with this chapter.
(1984 Code, § 36.43)
(E) (1) The Board of Ethics will, within one year after its passage, make this code, and explanations of its provisions (including information on how to fill out all forms and statements), available including, but not limited to, on the city website to all officials and employees, candidates and consultants, and to municipal residents and to all persons doing business or interested in doing business with the city, and will develop educational materials and a required educational program for the officials and employees of the city regarding the provisions of this chapter.
(2) The educational program must begin within 18 months after this code goes into effect.
(3) In addition, the Board of Ethics will hold an annual workshop for new and experienced officials and employees to discuss this code, its values and goals, its enforcement and the ways in which it has affected its work and the working of the city government.
(1984 Code, § 36.44)
(Ord. O-51-94, passed 12-29-1994; Ord. O-7-96, passed 3-6-1996; Ord. O-13-10, passed 5-25-2010; Ord. O-08-18, passed 1-30-2018)