The Ethics Officer shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) To initiate on his or her own, receive and investigate 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 his or her 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 Officer who has the power to administer oaths;
(C) To administer oaths and to issue orders requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence relating to an investigation or hearing conducted by the Ethics Officer;
(D) To refer any information concerning violations of this chapter to the Mayor, the City Council, the governing body of any city agency, the county attorney, or other appropriate person or body, as necessary;
(E) To render advisory opinions to the 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;
(F) 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;
(G) 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 through 61.884;
(H) The Ethics Officer shall prescribe and provide forms for reports, statements, notices, and other documents required by this chapter; and
(I) 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.
(Prior Code, § 38.46) (Ord. 94-7, passed 11-14-1994)