The Ethics Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) To initiate on its own motion a complaint, receive a complaint from outside of the Ethics Board, and investigate those complaints, hold hearings, and make findings of fact and determinations with regard to alleged violations of the provisions of this chapter.
(B) 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 Ethics Board who has the power to administer oaths.
(C) 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 Ethics Board.
(D) 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(s), body, or bodies, as necessary.
(E) To render advisory opinions to the city, city agencies, officers and employees regarding whether a given set of facts and circumstances would constitute a violation of any provision of this chapter.
(F) To enforce the provisions of this chapter with regard to all officers and employees of the city and of city agencies, who are subject to its terms by issuing appropriate orders and imposing penalties authorized by this chapter.
(G) To control and maintain all statements of financial interests 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 Kentucky Open Records Act.
(H) 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.
(I) To prepare and submit an annual report and any recommended changes to this chapter 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.
(J) The Ethics Board, along with the City Clerk, will annually review the list of officials and employees required to file annual disclosure statements to determine whether the lists are complete and accurate.
(K) (1) The Ethics Board will prepare forms for complaints and financial disclosure statements, and will make these forms available at the City Clerk’s office, and on the city’s website for easy downloading.
(2) By June 15 of each year, the Ethics Board 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 chapter. If it determines that an annual or transactional disclosure statement is deficient, or reveals a possible or potential violation of this chapter, the Ethics Board 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.
(Ord. 2022-11, passed 11-7-22)