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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-16-1999 Meeting ETBITCSSUBCOMNllTTEE CONTh1ITTEE ROOM - November 16, 1999 11 :00 A.M. I PRESENT: J.B. Powe:ll, Chairman, J. Brigham, W. Mays, members; R. Oliver, Administrator, J. Wall, Attorney; L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ALSO PRESENT: S. Cooper, Augusta Chronicle, G. Eskola, Channel 6, J. Rindell, Channel 12 and Channel 26, T. Watkins. Report from Attorney: Attorney Jim Wall presented the Committee with a detailed overview of the city's proposed Ethics Ordinances along with other cities and counties ordinances. I Mr. Mays: I spoke with Mr. Wall in reference to the parts on both disclosure and through reporting and I think maybe to simplify that, in as much as Randy approves all the travel period. One thing that might give us a balance in there not that either office is going to do anything wrong but in terms of where all the responsibility does not fall in one place. Ifit could be extended in some manner that if you are at an event and they are basic event functions and the trip has already been approved then that's enough to deal with where you've been through that process. I think in addition to that, we get invitations normally, sometimes things pop up to where it may be things that are decided by a group from three or four different cities that m~y opt to put something together while you're there, that's totally social. I think if you're dealing with it in that manner and somebody does it, then let his office be the clearing house on that part. For instance, if somebody wants to pl.an or schedule a business meeting with two or three Commissioners, if it's a perspective business person or industry and wants to talk in terms of the possibility of there coming here, then that meeting can be so arranged through the Administrator's office and let it apply to the Mayor and the Commissioners and let them basically give an estimated amount of disclosure in terms of the value of what that meeting might be. I think what 1'm getting to is the dual reporting side of this situation, I don't think we should be in an honor situation of reporting of where we may not know what a company or that person or persons or group would put down to say what the value of that meal would be, and we make a report to Ms. Bonner at a different amount, both persons have made a report. But, I think in all honesty and common sense fairness that some type of declaration of value could be made through his office when doing that. When we talk about the definition of things being prohibited in this particular ordinance and we get the definition of a gift and then we switch over to the other side and we say a gift should not include, well a gift is a gift because, we're talking about anything of value. That's the part of the ordinance that I think needs to be clarified. I think we need to go ahead and present something to the Commission but I think a couple of the areas in here in terms of disclosure and during the joint disclosure should be clearI.y defined because there is some conflicting language in there. I After a detailed discussion; Mr. Powell: I have looked all through this ethics ordinance and I don't see anything in here about travel. One thing I would like to see if Mr. Brigham and Mr. Mays have no objections when we come back if our newly proposed ethics ordinance I would like to see some language in there for travel. The part that I would like to see put in for travel as part of the ethics ordinance; is if you are not a county employee on an approved trip and you are not an elected official we don't pay for your trip. Anything outside that perimeter I think it needs to be paid for by the individual. 1 After further discussion, Mr. Brigham: I have a couple of things I would like to ask: (1) I would like to ask Mr. Wall while he is drafting this ordinance to look at putting a proposal in to limit campaign contributions to Commissioners and the Mayor in non election years. I think about $4,000 a year should be sufficient. I think any candidate should be able to run a campaign on a limited budget and I don't think we should be accepting contributions in non-election years. (2) I still have some concerns about the double reporting. I think one of those ordinances should definitely eliminate the double reporting. Also, I asked Ms. Bonner to contact the Georgia Municipal Association and submit our current ethics ordinance and from what I understand the only thing that we are lacking under their current standards to be a city of ethics with our current ethics ordinance is to pass a standard resolution asking for it and I do believe we need to put that on the agenda for I" this afternoon and go ahead and submit that. Mr. Mays: I so move to send the resolution from GlVlA to the full Commission today. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion carries unanimously. Other business: Mr. Mays: One of the other things I hope we can move forward on today in as much as the general public is looking at this particular group. In reference to the things which are surrounding us with the Grand Jury. I have no problem and am prepared to make a motion for the rest of our colleagues because I think we can all agree and disagree on certain points but one that I hope we can express as a total group in reference to supporting the measure of the situation with the Special Grand Jury in terms of moving to get the business if there are improprieties, if there are things that are illegal, improper, whether suggestions will be made or other things might be done. I think at this point this is something that needs to done and it needs to move on so that this city can get about doing the business of the city. And if it takes that to finalize this so let it be. I think we need to go on record as a group in support of the paneling of the Special Grand Jury. I I would like to make a motion that to add to the agenda today that we support that measure 1 to empanel a special grand jury and we do what we have to do in terms of cooperation to bring this situation to a close. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion carries unanimously. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission /bb I I AGENDA ETHICS SUBCOMMITTEE 11 :00 A.M. 1. Report from Attorney. 2. Other business. f t COMMITTEE ROOM November 16,1999