Can someone enlighten me on the mandate for an Ethics Committee in each county? (Jacket, I give this to you.) I have been reading all the information about this committee and the makeup of it. I have some questions. First of all, it appears that most, if not all, of the county elected officials are represented on this board. Now, if an employee has a complaint about their boss, who is an elected official, do you think they will be comfortable bringing it before the board without fear of retaliation? Second, does this not seem like the FOX watching the HEN HOUSE? Third, do you think the board can be objective when it involves people who they know and might have been their supporters in an election? I would think it would be more appropriate to have a board of citizens who have no knowledge of county government and no involvement in county government to serve on this board for it to be objective, people in the private sector who have a more realistic view of ethics. Comments please!!!
Ethics Committees are a new animal that was just mandated by the Legislature this year. It is made up as described in the Oak Ridger. It has certain County officials and a citizen on it. Not much else is available on the function. It will probably be like about anything else, make the rules as it goes. CTAS website may have a blurb about it but right now I don't have a quick ability to link it.
I don't think that forming an ethics committee was part of the states ruling. I believe all that was required was to adopt an ethics policy. The committee part came in because as we all know Anderson County officals committee everything to death. All elected officals in TN must send in reports to the State Ethics Commission. This is where the complaints should be filed not at the county level. Filing ethics complaints at the county level just helps people cover up for thier friends. Like we have seen with Myron and Kevin this week.
I don't think that forming an ethics committee was part of the states ruling. I believe all that was required was to adopt an ethics policy. The committee part came in because as we all know Anderson County officals committee everything to death. All elected officals in TN must send in reports to the State Ethics Commission. This is where the complaints should be filed not at the county level. Filing ethics complaints at the county level just helps people cover up for thier friends. Like we have seen with Myron and Kevin this week.
http://ctas-notes.ips.utk.edu/PUBLIC/web...Policy.pdf
An ethics committee was suggested as part of adopting the policy. Other counties have adopted the same format. CTAS was charged with assisting the county institute the policies. The Committee will be the governing body for complaints.
"Section 5. This section creates a five-member County Ethics Committee to receive and investigate complaints of violations of the policy and to refer matters to the appropriate person or agency for further action under existing laws, if appropriate. The committee consists of three county commissioners, one constitutional county officer (or another county commissioner if no official is willing to serve), and either one member of a board, committee, commission, or other instrumentality governed by the policy or another county commissioner, all appointed by the county mayor. The committee is to elect a chair and a secretary from among its members. Records of the committee are to be filed in the office of the county clerk, where they are open to public inspection.
The Ethics Reform Act does not contain any provisions regarding enforcement of the ethical standards or specific penalties, but instead provides that violations of ethical standards are to be enforced under existing law. While it is not required under the Ethics Reform Act, the model policy creates a local ethics committee as a mechanism for filing complaints of violations of the policy and maintenance of records. Although the CTAS model policy provides for the creation of a local ethics committee, the Ethics Reform Act does not mandate the creation of an ethics committee or the designation of any other local office to receive complaints."
A little oxy moron don't you think. I would think the complaints would be filed against the lord mayor and his CHUMP. I agree with PI, it should be a group of citizens in private industry to over see government.
Government is overseen at the ballot box.
Iwanski has resigned from the Ethics Commission....
"At the conclusion of Tuesday's meeting, Iwanski resigned his seat on the Ethics Commission in the interest of "having more public involvement." Iwanski appointed Oak Ridge attorney William "Bill" Allen to serve in his place."
http://www.oakridger.com/news/x273550193...y-proposed
Does being a member of the Ethics Commission really take up that much of his time?
No Opus, this is only their second meeting since the committee has formed. I think he might have gotten in over his head on the Kevin Ledden issue. He seems to want to serve on every other committee or at least be present to tell them how to run their committee. I would question his motives here. I would think the one to resign is the County Law Director since he is wearing two hats by participating. He is giving opinions on issues he might have to pursue if a law suit should come out of something. This is the one I would question as far as his involvement.
Well, another Ethics Committee member bites the dust, this time Register of Deeds Tim Shelton, and another lawyer appointed to take his place:
http://www.oakridger.com/news/x187499510...hics-board
I guess I misinterpreted Iwanski's reason for resigning (given in Thursday's paper as "Iwanski resigned his seat on the Ethics Commission in the interest of "having more public involvement."" Tho I can blame my ignorance on poor writing skills by the reporter
) Today's article states "Iwanski resigned because of concerns about the lack of citizen involvement on the Ethics Commission." Shelton gave the same reason.
Shouldn't they have thought of "citizen involvement" when the Ethics Committe was first formed? How many others will resign for the same reason and appoint another "citizen lawyer" in their place? Just wonderin'....
I don't know Shelton's views, but Iwanski wanted a bit of due process on that committee. Lawyers should understand that.