a. There shall be a conflicts of interest board consisting of five members. Three members shall be appointed by the mayor, one member shall be appointed by the public advocate, and one member shall be appointed by the comptroller. All members shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the council. The mayor shall designate a chair.
b. Members shall be chosen for their independence, integrity, civic commitment and high ethical standards. No person while a member shall hold any public office, seek election to any public office, be a public employee in any jurisdiction, hold any political party office, be a lobbyist as that term is defined in section 3-211 of the administrative code or participate in any capacity in a campaign by a candidate for nomination for election, or election, to the office of mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president or member of the city council. The restrictions on contributions by natural persons who have business dealings with the city set forth in subdivision 1-a of section 3-703 of the administrative code, or a successor law, shall apply to contributions by members. Each member shall agree not to make contributions in excess of such restrictions.
c. Each member shall serve for a term of six years. Provided, however, that one member appointed by the mayor shall be appointed for a term to expire on March 31, 2020; two members appointed by the mayor shall be appointed for terms to expire on March 31, 2024; and the members first appointed by the public advocate and comptroller shall be appointed for terms to expire on March 31, 2028, replacing two mayoral appointees whose terms expire on March 31, 2022. For all members, if the appointing authority has not submitted to the council a nomination for appointment of a successor at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the term of the member whose term is expiring, the term of the member in office shall be extended for an additional year and the term of the successor to such member shall be shortened by an equal amount of time. If the council fails to act within 45 days of receipt of such nomination from the appointing authority, the nomination shall be deemed to be confirmed. No member shall serve for more than two consecutive six-year terms.
d. Members shall receive a per diem compensation, no less than the highest amount paid to an official appointed to a board or commission with the advice and consent of the council and compensated on a per diem basis, for each calendar day when performing the work of the board.
e. Members of the board shall serve until their successors have been confirmed. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled by nomination by the appropriate appointing authority made to the council within 60 days of the creation of the vacancy, for the unexpired portion of the term of the member succeeded. If the council fails to act within 45 days of receipt of such nomination from the appointing authority, the nomination shall be deemed to be confirmed.
f. Members may be removed by their respective appointing authority for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers or duties of office or violation of this section, after written notice and opportunity for a reply.
g. The board shall appoint a counsel to serve at its pleasure and shall employ or retain such other officers, employees and consultants as are necessary to exercise its powers and fulfill its obligations. The authority of the counsel shall be defined in writing, provided that neither the counsel, nor any other officer, employee or consultant of the board shall be authorized to issue advisory opinions, promulgate rules, issue subpoenas, issue final determinations of violations of this chapter, or make final recommendations of or impose penalties. The board may delegate its authority to issue advisory opinions to the chair.
h. The board shall meet at least once a month and at such other times as the chair may deem necessary. Three members of the board shall constitute a quorum and all acts of the board shall be by the affirmative vote of at least three members of the board.
(Am. L.L. 2019/215, 12/11/2019, eff. 12/11/2019)