HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-21-13 Board of Ethics Minutes, draftMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS
MAY 21, 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, May 21, 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 5:04 p.m.
B. Public Comment Chris Carraway opened public comment. No person commented, so Mr.
Carraway closed public comment.
C. Approval of Minutes – March
One bullet point in section J. was removed as it was unclear what it referred to.
A motion to approve the minutes of
March with the slight revision above passed unanimously.
D. Disclosure of information or comments received
Melissa Frost was approached by Commissioner Mehl regarding the idea of
an op-ed in the paper regarding all of the things that the board has been up to. Mel Frost volunteered to write up an op-ed over the summer for publication in the fall.
E. Staff Report
1. Greg
Sullivan reported that Monday he issued a formal ethics opinion to the Mayor. He spoke regarding the written memorandum that was provided. The ethics opinion was placed on the city’s
website on the ethics page and future formal opinions will be posted there as well.
2. Greg Sullivan reported a question from an employee that came up in the train the trainer for staff
liaisons. The question related to an employee that became friends with a board member. The board member received a prize that was a $100 store gift certificate and gave it to the
employee because she could not use it and the employee could. Their friendship originated from the board participation so Mr. Sullivan advised the employee not to take the gift certificate.
The
Board of Ethics discussed the nuances of this situation. The gift certificate was definitely not meant to influence or reward and if it had been for $99 she could have kept it and filed
the disclosure form and if less than $25 could have kept it without the form.
3. Aimee Brunckhorst reported that the first supervisor employee ethics training went well with good discussion.
There were about 45 employees in attendance. The ethics train the trainer for staff liaisons’ to boards also went well. The liaisons should be helpful with the trainings. Greg Sullivan
may be needed to help with the trainings for several of the boards. The decision was made not to have a train the trainer for board chairs as only a few board chairs RSVP’d. Ms. Brunckhorst
sent out an email to the board chairs and staff liaisons asking them to begin discussing when they would like her to come provide the training at a regular board meeting. A meeting also
occurred with Community Development staff who requested that the review boards be trained fairly soon. The Human Resource Department has said they will not have time to conduct the trainings
until the fall. Ms. Brunckhorst will finish up the supervisor employee training logistics and then will pass off the training set up work for the employees to the Human Resource Department.
F. Action
Items
1. Review and Approve 4th edition of the City Ethics Handbook
Aimee Brunckhorst explained the revisions made to the post employment section, section 8, section 12 as per the newly
approved Ordinance.
Chris Carraway suggested that the wording ‘Public noticing requirements can be found in 2.03.570’ should be added to section 12, paragraph 2 as it is in paragraph
3.
Ms. Brunckhorst spoke regarding sending the electronic copy out to the employees and board members in addition to mailing the hard copy.
A motion to approve the 4th edition of the
City Ethics Handbook was made and passed unanimously.
2. Draft updated Questions for the Online Ethics Training provided to new Employees and new Board Members
Aimee Brunckhorst explained
that the questions being used for the online ethics training for new board members and employees need updated.
Melissa Frost mentioned that some of the questions seem pretty specific
to employees and whether there was a separate online training for boards.
Discussion occurred regarding the training content and questions and applicability.
Chris Carraway volunteered to work on corrections to the content and questions per the changes that
have occurred in the ethics code. His goal will be to provide a draft to Ms. Brunckhorst in August.
Aimee Brunckhorst will change the link to the handbook to the new version.
G. FYI
/ Discussion
1. Upcoming Schedule
The board decided not to meet until the fall unless something comes up between now and then. The next meeting is scheduled for September 24th at 5 p.m.
2. Melissa Frost’s term is expiring July 30, 2013. She will be reapplying for another term.
H. Adjournment
Chris Carraway adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m.
Minutes prepared
by: Aimee Brunckhorst, Deputy City Clerk Approved on: September 24, 2013