(A) All complaints alleging any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be submitted to the Board of Ethics or the administrative official designated by the Board of Ethics. All complaints shall be in writing, signed by the complainant, and shall meet any other requirements established by the Board of Ethics. The Board of Ethics shall acknowledge receipt of a complaint to the complainant within ten (10) days from the date of receipt. The Board shall forward within ten (10) working days, to each official, officer or employee of the city or city agency who is the subject of the complaint, a copy of the complaint, a copy of the complaint and a general statement of the applicable provisions of this chapter germane or covering the complaint or alleged violation.
(B) Within thirty (30) days of the receipt of a proper complaint, the Board of Ethics shall conduct a preliminary inquiry concerning the allegations contained in the complaint. The Board shall afford a person who is the subject of the complaint, an opportunity to respond to the allegations in the complaint. The person shall have the right to be represented by legal counsel, to appear and be heard, under oath, and to offer evidence in response to the allegations.
(C) All proceedings and records relating to a preliminary inquiry being conducted by the Board of Ethics shall be confidential until a final determination is made by the Board except:
(1) The Board may turn over to the Commonwealth’s Attorney or County Attorney evidence which may be used in criminal proceedings.
(2) If the complainant or alleged violator publicly discloses the existence of a preliminary inquiry, the Board may publicly confirm the existence of the inquiry, and, at its discretion, make public any documents which were issued by either party.
(D) The Board shall make a determination based on its preliminary inquiry whether the complaint is within its jurisdiction and, if so, whether it alleges a minimal, factual basis to constitute a violation of this chapter. If the Board concludes that the complaint is outside of its jurisdiction, frivolous or without factual basis, the Board shall immediately terminate the inquiry, reduce the conclusions to writing, and transmit a copy of its decision to the complainant and to all officials, officers or employees against whom the complaint was filed.
(E) If the Board of Ethics concludes, based upon its preliminary inquiry, that the complaint is within its jurisdiction and contains allegations sufficient to establish a minimal factual basis to constitute a violation, the Board shall notify the official, officer or employee who is the subject of the complaint and may:
(1) Due to mitigating circumstances such as, lack of significant economic advantage or gain by the official, officer or employee, lack of economic loss to the city and its taxpayers, or lack of significant impact on public confidence in city government issue, in writing, a confidential reprimand to the official, officer or employee concerning the alleged violation and provide a copy of the confidential reprimand to the executive authority and governing body of the city or city agency.
(2) Initiate a hearing to determine whether there has been a violation.
(F) Any person who knowingly files with the Board a false complaint alleging a violation of any provision of this chapter by an official, officer or employee of the city or any city agency shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Ord. 523-1994, passed 11-23-94)