HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/06/29 Board of Ethics Minutes
MINUTES OF A
BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING
CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
June 29, 1994
City Attorney's Conference Room
4:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Harriet Acton, Susan Herney, Janet Richter,
Donald Swanson, Jerry McNutt, Martha Villegas
STAFF PRESENT:
Stephen Padilla
Ruth Fritsch, Assistant city AttorneyU[~
MEMBERS ABSENT:
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Acton at 4:00 p.m.
MSUC (SwansonjHerney) to approve the minutes of the June 22, 1994
meeting (McNutt abstained).
Martha Villegas was introduced to the Board. She stated she was
formerly involved in community activities in Santee and Chu1a
vista. She has training in psychology and wants to be more
involved in Chula vista since she lives here. Ms. Acton explained
that the Board has a rather narrow focus due to its legislative
mandate. villegas was welcomed by all the current members.
Member McNutt explained that his input to the annual report is in
his letter. Mr. Swanson asked why the Board has not done anything
regarding Fox. Member Action stated that she felt it was out of
our hands. It was decided that the agenda for the next meeting
would include a consideration by the Board as to whether it is
appropriate for the Board to consider whether there have been
possible Code of Ethics violations by Bob Fox and Penny Allen.
Member Swanson stated that he thought that McNutt's letter was
valid. Susan Herney stated that Mr. McNutt in his letter
apparently wants the annual report to ask the City Council certain
questions that have been previously answered by the Council.
Member McNutt stated he believes the Council wants a Board that has
no real power. Ms. Herney stated that the answer of the City
Council was that the Commission was not to do an overhaul of the
Code of Ethics. She stated that they have a job description and
that if any member is dissatisfied with the job description, one of
his options is not to change the job description, since that is set
by his or her bosses.
Mr. McNutt stated that the Board can propose amendments. Member
Herney replied that that is true, but proposing an amendment is not
the same thing as changing the jurisdiction of the Board. Ms.
Herney also explained that she had crafted a mission statement to
be attached to the annual report. She read the statement. MSUC
(Acton, Richter) that the statement be added.
Board of Ethics
June 29, 1994 Minutes
Page Two
Member McNutt declared he wants to expand the Ethics Code to
include immoral behavior and to apply to all employees.
Mr. Swanson expressed his belief that the City has no sexual
harassment policy.
The Chair directed the group's attention to the annual report
stating that it was due tomorrow and that their comments would all
have to be made at the meeting.
Member Herney asserted that she is not willing to have comments go
to the Council without her review of those comments although she
would agree to have individual comments not necessarily attributed
to the entire Board. She mentioned that the Board would look
foolish if they went back to the Council with the same questions
that were propounded twice the last year. Mr. McNutt stated that
he did not think that the Board would look foolish.
There was discussion about rendering advisory opinions to people
that the group does have jurisdiction over.
In addition to Member Herney's mission statement, the following was
adopted for inclusion into the Board's annual statement under
"other Comments Section", after a discussion centering around a
proposal by Member McNutt that the group state that it is the
Board's intent to be more proactive in the future. MSUC
(Acton/Villegas) to add the following comment to the annual report
"Our plans for the next year are that we will vigorously uphold and
enforce the principles in the Code of Ethics".
McNutt stated he was willing to send his letter to the City Council
as a individual.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m. to the meeting of August 3,
1994 at 4:00 p.m.
~jJ~
oard of Ethics Secretary
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