HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-19-13 Board of Ethics MinutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS
MARCH 19, 2013
BOZEMAN, MONTANA
These minutes are not word for word. Please refer to the audio of this meeting available at www.bozeman.net
in the Board of Ethics minutes folder for further detail.
The Board of Ethics of the City of Bozeman met in the Gallatin room, City Hall at 121 North Rouse on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
Present were board members Chris Carraway, Melissa Frost and Mary Jane McGarity. Staff present was City Attorney Greg Sullivan, City Manager Chris Kukulski and Deputy City Clerk Aimee
Brunckhorst.
A. Meeting Called to Order Chris Carraway called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.
B. Public Comment Chris Carraway opened public comment. No person commented, so Mr.
Carraway closed public comment.
C. Approval of Minutes – February
A motion to approve the minutes of February passed unanimously.
D. Disclosure of information or comments received
E.
Staff Report
None.
F. Prepare and discuss April 8th City Commission presentation regarding revision recommendations for the Conflict of Interest and Post Employment/Service provisions
of the code of Ethics (Draft Ordinance 1856, BMC Sections 2.03.520, 2.03.560 and 2.03.570)
Chris Carraway forwarded a few edit suggestions to the board for review.
Motion and vote to
incorporate edits received from Chris Carraway into the Ordinance.
The motion passed unanimously.
Board members and staff discussed the PowerPoint presentation draft that member Chris
Carraway distributed and what points would be best to highlight.
Based upon recent lines of questions - Emphasize that board members did talk with the sole proprietor community.
Focus
Commission on the larger community of people the code is written for
Provision all about appearances
Don’t want a commissioner appearing before the commission advocating for themselves.
Treating
sole proprietors as a special class that can have a conflict of interest.
Not about the damage to the commission - damage to the institution. credibility
Overarching goal of the entire
ordinance is transparency to build trust with citizens
Not driven by what the consultant community wants - focus on the integrity of the organization.
All about building a high degree
of trust with the citizenry.
First and second make up of the board both agreed these revisions are necessary
Bit off too much during the first run before the Commission
Discussion regarding
the Charter and how the Charter is the overarching guide for the Board
Importance of examples: Coffee with a former commissioner to talk generally is not prohibited. If the former
commissioner were trying to influence a future vote regarding something that was under their jurisdiction - that is prohibited.
Very clear that there is not an outright prohibition
These
code limitations are already in place - revisions are trying to shore up a hole in the provision right now - no description of how to handle the disclosure.
Not an onerous disclosure
Can
have an online reporting form for gifts.
Walk through examples
Answer to sole proprietor - the charter prevents that!
PowerPoint - as part of the packet
Add Charter provision to the
memorandum
Memo to be emailed out to the board members when finished
K. FYI / Discussion
1. Mel Frost having trouble with emails disappearing quickly and lots of spam
2. Upcoming Schedule:
April
8th - Present Ordinance revisions to the Commission
April Regular meeting - Canceled
May 21st at 5 p.m.
I. Adjournment Chris Carraway adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m. Minutes prepared
by: Aimee Brunckhorst, Deputy City Clerk Approved on: May 21, 2013