Any person subject to the provisions of this article may make application in writing to the Municipal Ethics Commission for an advisory opinion on whether an action or proposed action violates the provisions of this article, and would thereby expose the person to any sanctions of law. The Commission shall convene a meeting within thirty days from the receipt of any such request and shall in any event issue an advisory opinion on the matter raised in the request within sixty days from the receipt of the request. All advisory opinions shall be in writing and one copy thereof shall be delivered by the chairman of the Commission to the City Clerk/Treasurer, who shall thereupon present the advisory opinion to Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting of Council and such advisory opinion shall be attached to the minutes of the meeting; provided, that before any advisory opinion is made public, any material which may identify the person who is the subject of the opinion, shall to the fullest extent possible, be deleted and the identity of the person shall not be revealed. A person subject to the provisions of this article may rely upon the advisory opinion of the Commission, and any person acting or relying in good faith on any such advisory opinion shall then be immune from the sanctions of law, including any sanction set forth by State law, and shall have an absolute defense to any criminal prosecution for actions taken in good faith reliance upon such advisory opinion.
(Ord. 89-13. Passed 9-5-89.)