Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Virtual Meeting via Zoom

The Ethics Commission Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman James Hester.  Roll was called with the following Commissioners present: Chairman Hester, Vice Chair Bardwell, Commissioners Drake, Scaggs, and Dahms.  Also, present Dennis Whitley, Ethics Commission Legal Counsel, LouAnn Crook, City Administrator, and Laura Christoplos, Administrative Assistant II. 

On a motion by Vice Chair Bardwell, seconded by Commissioner Drake, the agenda for the June20, 2021 meeting was unanimously approved.

On a motion by Commissioner Drake, seconded by Vice Chair Bardwell, the meeting minutes of May 25, 2021 were approved as amended.

Vice Chair Bardwell presented the report of the Financial Disclosure Statement Review Subcommittee.

In response to a question, Mr. Whitley stated that Counsel to the Ethics Commission and the City Solicitor are not required to file an annual Financial Disclosure Statement.

On a motion by Vice Chair Bardwell, seconded by Commissioner Scaggs, the Commission voted unanimously to send a follow-up communication to the Mayor to recommend that Mr. Jamal Lee, Community Redevelopment Authority, and Mr. Martin Mitchell, Board of Appeals, recuse themselves from voting on actions by their respective boards until such time as their fines are paid, and that their votes during the time they were not in compliance be reviewed and recalled if appropriate. They also recommended that appropriate fines for late filing be assessed on Mr. Lee ($146) and Mr. Mitchell ($70, as previously recommended).

The timeline for the review of Financial Disclosure Statements from Candidates participating in the City of Laurel General election was discussed.

City of Laurel Ethics Commission – Meeting Minutes

May 25, 2021

Page 2

City Administrator Crook informed the Commission that the Clerk to the City Council and the Board of Election Supervisors will likely host a meeting with potential candidates to familiarize them with election processes and candidate requirements, including the Financial Disclosure Statement process. City Administrator Crook will advise the Commission of the date of that meeting.

City Administrator Crook updated the Commission on the automation of future Financial Disclosure Statements. She stated thata fillable form will be available on the City’s website, to be completed, printed, signed, notarized (if necessary) and returned. Filers would also be given the option of having a paper copy of the form mailed to them.

City Administrator Crook informed the Commission that the Mayor and City Council had passed Resolution 6-21, allowing for virtual meetings of the Mayor and City Council and recommending that at least one meeting per year of all City Boards, Commissions and Committees be done via virtual platform. This will ensure that the skills learned in the past year are refreshed. The Resolution will be effective once passed as a Charter Amendment.

City Administrator Crook recommended that the next meeting be held on September 28, 2021. Candidates’ Financial Disclosure Statements will be available for review by the Commission on that date.

There being no further business to come before the Commission, on a motion by Commissioner Drake, seconded by Commissioner Scaggs, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.