HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 12 2024 Board of Ethics Minutes DRAFT MINUTES
LANSING CITY BOARD OF ETHICS
REGULAR MEETING
November 12, 2024 5:30 PM
Meeting Room
Reo Elections Office
1221 Reo Rd Lansing
The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jim DeLine, Chairperson
R Cole Bouck,
John Folkers
Jim Cavanagh
Keith Kris, Vice Chairperson
Rachelle Franklin
ABSENT: Janielle Houston, Excused
A QUORUM WAS PRESENT
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brian P Jackson, City Clerk's Office
Chris Swope, City Clerk
Joe Abood, City Attorney's Office
Katherine Nichols-Leindecker, City Attorney's Office
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There was no public comment
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Moved by Keith Kris to approve the agenda as submitted with the addition
to the Secretary's Report of "Louise Alderson Resignation".
MOTION CARRIED
SECRETARY'S REPORT:
Approval of Minutes
Moved by Cole Bouck to approve the Minutes of October 8, 2024 as
submitted.
MOTION CARRIED
Moved by Cole Bouck to accept the resignation of Louise Alderson
MOTION CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS:
Moved by Jim Cavanagh to accept the Meeting Schedule for 2025 with the
amendment to change the November meeting to Tuesday, Nov. 18 to avoid
Veteran's Day.
MOTION CARRIED
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
Joe Abood thanked all veterans for their service to our Country as the day
before was Veteran's Day.
CHAIR'S REPORT: None.
TABLED ITEMS:
Affidavit of Disclosure, Randy Watkins, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Board
Moved by Keith Kris to recognize Jim Cavanagh recusal of himself from
voting since he has a friendship with Mr. Watkins.
MOTION CARRIED
Joe Abood shared the City Attorney's Office opinion that even though Randy
Watkin's is about to resign and accept an appointment to the Police Board of
Commissioners, it is best that the Board of Ethics still act on Mr. Watkin's
Affidavit.
Moved by Cole Bouck to place Randy Watkins' Affidavit of Disclosure on file,
having found no violation of the Ethics Ordinance or other issues to further
debate or discuss at this time.
MOTION CARRIED
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Cole Bouck and Jim DeLine shared their experiences at the Regional Ethics
Conference 2024 and how other communities have very different missions and
procedures.
It led them to have questions about City of Lansing procedure of which some
were answered by Deputy Clerk Jackson about the ethics' complaint process.
As a result, the Ethics Board request copies of materials that are provided to City
employees in onboarding and continuing education of City employees.
Clerk's Office provided electronic copies of the Ethics Manual that was created
by the Board of Ethics.
Jim DeLine brought to Board attention several items within the Rules of
Procedures which should be reviewed. These items are:
Item 7.2: Question whether motion to recuse is required or should the recusal
process be made more clearer in this section.
(City Attorney's Office was going to review that question)
Item 8.4 and 8.5: whether clarification is necessary that ex officio officers are
non—voting members
Item 13: Should the Board consider changing meeting procedures to Robert's
Rules of Order
(City Attorney's Office was going to review if there was a legal justification
for staying with current Mason's rules)
Item 15: Request information on how complaints are handled and what
determine that process. Board was informed that Ethics Ordinance sets the
procedure.
Deputy Clerk Jackson shared with the Board with the process in which revisions
of Rules of Procedures must be approved to form by the City Attorney. Then
upon approval of the Board of Ethics, the revised rules would be included in the
next Council packet for potential rejection.
ADJOURNED 6:34 p.m.