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Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
The Ethics Commission Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by Chairman James Hester. Roll was called with the following Commissioners present: Chairman Hester, Vice Chair Bardwell, Commissioners Drake, and Scaggs, and Alternate Crook. Also present were Dennis Whitley, Ethics Commission Legal Counsel, Christian Pulley, City Administrator, and Laura Christoplos, Administrative Assistant II.
City Administrator Christian Pulley was introduced and welcomed as the new Executive Officer.
On a motion by Vice Chair Bardwell, seconded by Commissioner Dahms, the agenda for the April 26, 2022, meeting was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Commissioner Dahms, seconded by Commissioner Scaggs, the meeting minutes of January 25, 2022, were approved as amended.
The General Public Hearing was opened at 6:11 p.m. As there were no members of the public present, it was closed at 6:12 p.m.
On a motion by Vice Chair Bardwell, seconded by Commissioner Scaggs, Chair Hester was nominated and unanimously re-elected as Chair of the Ethics Commission.
On a motion by Commissioner Drake, seconded by Chair Hester, Vice Chair Bardwell was nominated and unanimously re-elected as Vice Chair of the Commission.
Staff presented a report on the status of the 2021 Financial Disclosure Statements (FDS). Twelve have not been received. Two are missing a page or an answer. One is missing a signature, and one is waiting for a notary.
Commissioner Drake volunteered to be on the review sub-committee at the last meeting. No other Commissioner volunteered, so it will be a one-person subcommittee. Commissioner Bardwell volunteered to be a sounding board if Commissioner Drake had questions.
Commissioner Drake questioned whether “Not Applicable” was an acceptable answer since the questions apply to everyone who is required to fill out an FDS.
On a motion by Chair Hester, seconded by Commissioner Drake, the Commission voted unanimously to allow “Not Applicable” on this year’s FDS and edit the instructions for next year so that “None” will be the only negative answer allowed for next year.
As requested in the January 25, 2022, minutes there was a discussion of whether senior officials should fill out the Advanced FDS in the future. Administrator Pulley will talk with the Mayor about what is required by the Code.
Chair Hester is of the opinion that the Code is silent on whether senior officials need to fill out the Advanced FDS. Counselor Whitley asked Administrator Pulley to research how other jurisdictions are handling this.
The next regular meeting was scheduled for July 26, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. by Zoom. Commissioner Drake will contact staff to arrange for a meeting once all of the FDSs are reviewed.
At 6:45 p.m., Vice Chair Bardwell made the motion to adjourn, Commission Scaggs seconded, all present agreed.
