(A) There is hereby created a Board of Ethics, which shall have the authorities, duties and responsibilities as set forth in this chapter to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The Board of Ethics shall consist of three (3) members who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council. The initial members of the Board of Ethics shall be appointed within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this chapter. No member of the Board of Ethics shall hold any elected or appointed office, whether paid or unpaid, or any position of employment with the city or any city agency. No member of the Board of Ethics may be or have been, within two (2) years prior to their appointment, an officer or employee, consultant or contractor of the city; an officer in a political party or political committee; a candidate or active member of the campaign of a candidate, for any office within the Board's jurisdiction; or a lobbyist. Nor should a member, nor any member of their immediate family, have, within two (2) years prior to their appointment, sought any special benefits from the city, directly or indirectly. A member of the Board of Ethics, or staff member, or a member of their immediate family, may not, directly or indirectly, seek any special benefits from the city, make campaign contributions, nor participate in any way in the campaign of a candidate for any office within the Ethics Board's jurisdiction, or of an individual currently within the Board's jurisdiction. The members shall serve for a term of three (3) years; except that, with respect to the members initially appointed, one (1) member shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year, one (1) member shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, and one (1) member shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of three (3) years. No more than two (2) of the members shall be of the same political party. Each member of the Board of Ethics shall have been a resident of the city for at least three (3) years prior to the date of their appointment, shall be eighteen (18) years of age, shall not related to the Mayor, any Councilmember, or any city officer or employee, and shall reside in the city throughout their term in office. The members of the Board of Ethics shall be chosen by virtue of their known and consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge of local government affairs. The members may be re-appointed for any number of consecutive terms.
(C) A member of the Board of Ethics may be removed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council, for misconduct, inability or willful neglect of duties. Before any member of the Board of Ethics is removed from office under this section, the member shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing before the Mayor and City Council.
(D) Vacancies on the Board of Ethics shall be filled within sixty (60) days by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Council. If a vacancy is not filled by the Mayor within sixty (60) days, the remaining members of the Board of Ethics shall fill the vacancy. All vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(E) Members of the Board of Ethics shall serve without compensation, unless otherwise approved by the City Council, but shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(F) The Board of Ethics shall, upon the initial appointment of its members and annually thereafter, elect a chairperson from among the membership. The chairperson shall be the presiding officer and a full voting member of the Board.
(G) Meetings of the Board of Ethics shall be held, as necessary, upon the call of the chairperson or at the written request of a majority of the members. The Board of Ethics shall follow the Open Meetings Act for all meetings.
(H) The presence of two (2) or more members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of two (2) or more members shall be necessary for any official action to be taken. Any member of the Board of Ethics who has a conflict of interest with respect to any matter to be considered by the Board shall disclose the nature of the conflict, shall disqualify himself or herself from voting on the matter, and shall not be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum by removing themselves from the meeting room for the duration of the consideration of the matter.
(I) Minutes shall be kept for all proceedings of the Board of Ethics, and the vote of each member on any issue decided by the Board shall be recorded in the minutes.
(Ord. 18-1994, passed 11-21-94; Am. Ord. 6-2022, passed 11-7-22)