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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/10/02 Board of Ethics Minutes CORRECTED CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA MINUTES OF A BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING October 2, 1995 City Attorney's Conference Room 4:15 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Herney, Richard Schulman, Douglas Cochrane, Virgil Whitehead and Joanne Carson, Lionel McQuillon, Billy Kelley (arrived at 4:30 p.m.) OTHERS PRESENT: Harriet Acton Jerry McNutt Donna MCQuillon, Wife of Lionel McQuillon Candy Emerson, Director of Personnel Cheryl Ponds, Substitute Secy. to City Attorney The meeting was called to order by Chairman Herney at 4:15 p.m. 1. Roll Call. Roll was called and all members were present except Billy Kelley who arrived at 4:25 p.m. In accordance with Chairman Herney's suggestion, everyone present briefly introduced themselves for the benefit of the new member, Lionel McQuillon and the substitute secretary, Cheryl Ponds. Mr. McQuillon to gave a brief background on himself regarding length of time in the city, his interest in ethics and what he has done professionally. Billy Kelley introduced himself and gave a brief background on himself. 3. Approval of Minutes MSUC (Schulman/Cochrane) to approve the minutes as corrected of September 25, 1995. The corrections were as follows: Item 5, page 2, 1st paragraph, Richard Schulman and Toni McKean were asked to represent the Board and Virgil Whitehead was asked to attend to gi ve support. Also, third paragraph on the last page, Mr. Whitehead remarked that the ordinance as it relates to contribution be eliminated, it's not a policeable item. 4. Implementation of Recommendations of Ethics Seminar Report Chairman Herney stated that this item had been neglected to be placed on the agenda therefore it could not be discussed at the last meeting. Therefore, Chairman Herney stated that Ms. Emerson would be first on the agenda. Chairman Herney gave a brief background on the subject for the benefit of the new members. Chairman Herney introduced Candy Emerson. Ms. Emerson stated that she would discuss the three items of interest and update the Board on some other items. The first item regarded publicizing the Ethics Program through the quarterly newsletter, press releases, etc. The City Manager's PUblic Information Coordinator is planning to do something in the next quarterly newsletter and would like to work with Toni McKean or a subcommittee to get the correct information for the newsletter. One item that will be placed in the newsletter is that tapes are available in the library. Ms. Emerson suggested that if the Board had particular information or a certain slant they wanted published to forward it to the Public Information Coordinator as she is an excellent writer and the final can be presented to the Board for their approval. She has issued one press release and will plan to issue another when the training takes place in January. If there are other areas where a press release would seem important or appropriate she can do that too. The next item Ms. Emerson addressed was the "Character Counts" program. Anna, Ms. Emerson's secretary, is scheduling a meeting with Libby Gil and has suggested others that need to attend. It is a program that needs to be initiated by the schools and Ms. Emerson has checked with several other departments and the Board of Ethics can certainly provide all kinds of support in terms of spreading information. Ms. Emerson was not sure if the schools were aware of this program and suggested that the Board enlighten the schools and present the program in the city's interest. The meeting will be in two or three weeks. Ms. Emerson stated that School District representatives will be asked to attend and there is a list of individuals that will be asked to attend, including the high school districts. Ms. Emerson asked for clarification from the Board regarding the next item, scrolling messages across the television screen in order to make the public aware of the ethics program. Ms. Emerson stated that the Public Information Coordinator told her that it would not be a problem having Cox Cable scrolling messages across the screen. Ms. Emerson stated the messages must be very brief. They could use Toni McKean as an intermediary. The Board members need to decide what to say. Mr. Whitehead suggested that the Board members bring in a variety of one liners to the next meeting and give to Ms. Emerson to review. Ms. Emerson said the Board can make some up and provide a variety of messages to rotate and she will find out about the frequency the messages will run. Chairman Herney asked if the Board members would bring their one liners to the next meeting. Ms. Emerson mentioned that departments are coming up with mission statements that work around ethics. A number of the departments have something; Police, Fire, Planning (in the process). It will be discussed at the Department Head meeting about formalizing these so that we can work towards the goal of having something. Mr. Schulman asked that the Board members receive copies of the Board of Ethics 10-02-95 Minutes Page 3 departments statements. Chairman Herney suggested that this may be a subject to be placed in the Chula vista Quarterly Newsletter for the residents. 5. Presentation to Leadershio Chula vista about the Ethics Proqram on October 31. 1995 at 8:00 a.m. Chairman Herney stated that Toni McKean will be available to attend the October 31st meeting. She asked that Mr. Schulman coordinate with Ms. McKean. She said that Frank Scott and Tina Williams are co-chairing the meeting. Chairman Herney instructed Mr. Schulman to contact Mr. Scott to inform him of who will be attending. 1. Oral Communications. Chairman Herney mentioned that she had discussed with Lorraine the position of this item on the agenda. She decided that it would be first in order to have the advance benefit of any special things that Jerry McNutt, Harriet Acton or any of the other visitors had brought for us. This is an opportunity for the general public to address the board on any subject matter that is not an item on the agenda. Harriet Acton stated that she has two sheets of one liner messages covering a variety of subjects. Also, Ms. Acton brought the follow up letter the chair asked to be drafted for the Mayor'S signature and to be presented to the Council for approval. Ms. Acton said it is on tomorrow night's agenda (October 3rd) under the Mayor's Report(s) . 4. Mission Statement. Chairman Herney stated that it has been a practice of this commission to hold their meetings to the 1-1/2 hour limit, so some agenda items will be listed regularly so that the Board will not find themselves in a bind. She added that the Board will spend the bulk of the time on Item 5, Mission Statement Workshop. Chairman Herney adjourned the meeting (4:45 p.m.) and began the Mission Statemept Workshop so that the board can have the full contribution and participation of the two former members, Jerry McNutt and Harriet Acton. Chairman Herney announced that Items 7 & 8 would be trailed to the next meeting in order that the Board devote the remaining time and attention to Item 5, Mission Statement Workshop. Board of Ethics 10-02-95 Minutes Page 4 The Chairman stated for the benefit of the new members the suggestion to draft a mission statement for the Board of Ethics came from Councilman Alevy. The Board was proceeding and finding difficulties in terms of implementing the City Ethics Program because of a change in Toni McKean's work assignment. Councilman Alevy suggested that the board find a way to educate the Council succinctly by creating a mission statement that would convey what the Board of Ethics intended to do within the framework of the code. Councilman Alevy told the Board that every member and employee should be required to attend the City Attorney's training on conflict of interest once a year, that council members should be required to go by the rules, a council statement that would issue guidelines for ethics in the city and to make training available to groups who would request it. Chairman Herney read the present City Code regarding the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics. She said that Councilman Alevy felt that the city code should be subscribed to citywide. Chairman Herney appointed Billy Kelley as the facilitator on the Mission statement Workshop. Mr. Kelley explained to the Board members what a mission statement should and should not be. The Board members reviewed and discussed the various drafts of the mission statement and a decided on the following final mission statement: The Chula vista Board of Ethics is committed to honor the public trust by promoting ethical values and monitoring ethical standards in all aspects of city government. MSUC (WhiteheadjjSchulman) to approve the mission statement. Mr. Schulman asked a question regarding the mailed out information to the Board. Lorraine discovered that a page was missing and she would be sure to get copies to everyone. Chairman Herney reconvened the regular meeting (5:20 p.m.). The Chairman requested the Board to select another meeting time besides Monday due to her Staff Development course on Mondays and Wednesdays. Joanne Carson asked if there is a need to continue to meet weekly. She understood about the past weekly meetings because of the items that had to be taken care of in a timely manner prior to board members coming to the end of their term on the board. She would have to resign if the Board continues to meet every week. Board of Ethics 10-02-95 Minutes Page 5 The Chairman reported that the Board has the assessment of the Campaign Contribution Ordinance to complete and the revision of the Ethics Ordinance that the city Attorney had drafted for their consideration, which came up after our ethics training session. The Board had a brief discussion and consulted with Lorraine and decided to schedule the meeting on the first Thursday of every month from 4:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Ms. Acton reminded the Chair and Board members that this meeting will have to be posted and published. The Chairman requested that the Board be allowed flexibility to have the meeting posted as "the Chair calls". MSUC (carson/Cochrane) to approve the schedule for the Board of Ethics meetings as called by the Chairman as necessary on the first Thursday of the month from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Mr. Schulman brought to members' attention that the location of the meeting was printed incorrectly on the City Council's agenda, it should be listed as the Attorney's Conference Room. Ms. Carson mentioned in the last meeting there was a discussion pertaining to making a video of the city Attorney for people to check out regarding conflict of interest and the Brown Act. Ms. Carson stated that Montgomery High School still does that and Jack Olmstead has a class at the high school. The board may want to follow up on this and contact Mr. Olmstead to see if he would like to do it as the teacher. Mr. Whitehead announced that he has tapes and the board may want to set up a time to view them. Chairman Herney stated that hopefully one of the outcomes of the Ethics Program, was that the Training Officer would maintain such a library. Mr. Whitehead stated that when the Board begins to do its Operating Guidelines that this training aspect should be brought up and placed on the agenda. The meeting adj ourned at 5: 40 p. m. to a dinner social at Marie Callendar's. Their next meeting scheduled for Monday, November 2, 1995 at 4:15 p.m. cR~~~ Cheryl A. Ponds C:\ethics\~inutes\10.02"g5