(A) Board of Ethics. Pursuant to the memorandum of agreement setting forth the Barren River Regional Board of Ethics, all authority for the establishment of procedures for formation and maintenance of the Barren River Board of Ethics appropriate thereto are hereby delegated provided:
(1) The Board shall comply with all terms and conditions as set forth in the Act Establishing a Code of Ethics for Cities;
(2) Any hearings or related procedures shall comply with the Commonwealth Rules of Civil Procedure and the Commonwealth Rules of Evidence;
(3) Any regulations adopted by the Board of governing its procedures shall be consistent with the Commonwealth Open Records Law, being KRS 61.870 through 61.884;
(4) The city shall bear its proportionate share of any costs for investigations, hearings, preparation of findings, and the issuance of any advisory opinions by the Board; and
(5) No member of the Regional Board of Ethics shall hold a position in any local government or be subject to the terms of this subchapter.
(B) Reprisals against persons disclosing violations prohibited.
(1) No officer or employee of the city or any city agency shall subject to reprisal, or directly or indirectly use, or threaten to use any official authority or influence in any manner whatsoever which tends to discourage, restrain, deter, prevent, interfere with, coerce, or discriminate against any person who in good faith reports, discloses, divulges, or otherwise brings to the attention of the Barren River Regional Board of Ethics or any other agency or official of the city or the commonwealth any facts or information relative to an actual or suspected violation of this subchapter.
(2) This division (B) shall not be construed as prohibiting disciplinary or punitive action if an officer or employee of the city or any city agency discloses information which he or she knows:
(a) To be false or which he or she discloses with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity;
(b) To be exempt from required disclosure under the provisions of the Commonwealth Open Records Act, KRS 61.870 to 61.884; or
(c) Is confidential under any other provision of law.
(Ord. 637-94, passed 10-20-1994)