(A) There is hereby created an Ethics Board which shall have the authorities, duties, and responsibilities as set forth in this chapter to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The Ethics Board shall consist of up to three members who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the City Commission. The initial members of the Ethics Board shall be appointed within 60 days of the effective date of this chapter. The members shall serve for a term of three years; except that with respect to the members initially appointed, one member shall be appointed for a term of one year, one member shall be appointed for a term of two years, and one member shall be appointed for a term of three years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of three years.
(C) An Ethics Board member will serve until his or her successor has been appointed, in the same manner as the original appointment. Consecutive service on the Ethics Board may not exceed two full terms, except that a one-term alternate member may thereafter serve two terms as a regular member, and a two-term alternate member may thereafter serve one term as a regular member. In addition, once an Ethics Board member has not served on the Ethics Board for one full term, they may be appointed to return to the Board.
(D) No member of the Ethics Board 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 Ethics Board may be, or have been within the three years prior to appointment, an officer or employee, consultant or contractor of the city; an officer in a political party or political committee; a candidate or an 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 his or her immediate family, have, within the three years prior to appointment, sought any special benefits from the city, directly or indirectly. An Ethics Board member or staff member, or a member of his or her 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 Board’s jurisdiction, or of an individual currently within the Board’s jurisdiction.
(E) Each member of the Ethics Board shall have been a resident of the city for at least one year prior to the date of the appointment and shall reside in the city throughout the term in office. The members of the Ethics Board shall be chosen by their known and consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge of local government affairs.
(F) A member of the Ethics Board may be removed by the City Commission for misconduct, inability, or willful neglect of duties. Before any member of the Board is removed from office under this section, the member shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing before the City Commission.
(G) Vacancies on the Ethics Board shall be filled within 60 days by the City Commission. If a vacancy is not filled by the City Commission within 60 days, the remaining members of the Board shall fill the vacancy. All vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(H) Members of the Ethics Board shall serve without compensation, unless otherwise approved by the City Commission but shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(I) The Ethics Board shall elect a Chairperson from among the membership annually which shall occur on the fourth Tuesday of July at 7:00 pm. The Chairperson shall be the presiding officer and a full voting member of the Board.
(J) In addition to the annual meeting of the Ethics Board shall be held, as necessary, upon the call of the chairperson or at the written request of a majority of the members. The Board shall follow the Open Meetings Act for all meetings.
(K) The presence of two or more members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of two or more members shall be necessary for any official action to be taken. Any member of the Ethics Board 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.
(L) Minutes shall be kept by city staff for all proceedings of the Ethics Board and the vote of each member on any issue decided by the Board shall be recorded in the minutes.
(Ord. 2020-004, passed 2-18-2020)