HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 02 10.notes.Board of Ethics ETHICS BOARD MEETING NOTES 2/10/04 PRESENT: Robert Nole, Chair Rev.
LaSandra Jones, Member
Jason Amen Hetep, Member David A. Merchant II, Member Mary Claiborne, Member Ellen Sullivan, PhD, Vice Chair Rev. John Folkers, Member
ABSENT: Ron Frybort, Member
A quorum was present. OTHERS PRESENT: Debbie Miner, City Clerk, Jack Roberts, Chief Deputy City
Attorney, M. Denise Griffin, Chief Deputy City Clerk, Christine
Timmon PUBLIC COMMENT: Christine Timmon of 334 E. St. Joseph said that she is here because she will be making comparisons between the City of Lansing Ethics Ordinance,
Ingham County Ethics Policy and State of Michigan Ethics provisions.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Vice Chairman Sullivan to amend the agenda by delaying the review of the
Ethics Training Video until the March meeting and to approve the agenda as amended. MOTION CARRIED 7/0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Member Folkers to correct the minuttes of January 13, 2004 by stating the vote on all motions as 7/0 rather than 6/0, and to approve the minutes as corrected. MOTION CARRIED 7/0
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED AND SENT SINCE LAST MEETING: 1. Letter to Daniel J. Flynn Principal Consultant in the Project Engineering Department of the Board of Water & Light informing him of the disposition of the
Affidavit of Disclosure he filed. RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE 2. Letter to Mary Sova, Corporate Secretary at the Board of Water & Light submitting
a copy of the letter to Mr. Flynn advising of the disposition of his affidavit of disclosure.
RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE 3. Letter to Brian J. Davis of the City of Lansing Fire Department informing him of the Finding of a Conflict of Interest with regard to the Affidavit of Disclosure he filed.
RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE 4. Letter to Steve Bolenbaugh, Fire Marshal submitting a copy of the letter to Mr. Davis advising of the finding of a Conflict of Interest with regard to the Affidavit of
Disclosure he filed.
RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE
5. Affidavit of Disclosure filed by Eric Tumbarella, Manager in the Management
Services Department of the City of Lansing
City Attorney Roberts reported speaking with Mr. Tumbarella. It is his opinion that there is no relationship between Mr. Tumbarella’s job responsibilities with the City of Lansing and what he does as a volunteer on his own time.
Motion by Member Amen Hetep that the Affidavit of Disclosure filed by Eric Tumbarella be received and placed on file with no finding of a conflict of interest. MOTION CARRIED 6/0 CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Mr. Roberts announced that with the resignation of Jim Smiertka as the Lansing City Attorney, he has been appointed as the Acting City Attorney beginning February 14, 2004.
Regrettably he will no longer be able to serve as legal counsel for the Board. He has asked Margo Vroman, from the City Attorney’s Office to serve on the Board. Margo has worked with the Board in the past and is familiar with procedures. He expressed his appreciation for the careful deliberation that Ethics Board Members bring to their service on the board and said he will miss working with them. Chairman Nole asked his
colleagues to join him in expressing their congratulations and thanks to Mr. Roberts. CHAIR’S REPORT:
Chairman Nole reported that he has talked with Dr. Anderson since the last meeting, and
he sounded good and promised to stay in touch. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Ethics Board Opinion # 33, Response to Complaint #2003-2a and 2b RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE
2. Revised Meeting Schedule for 2004 WITH THE CORRECTION OF THE DATE OF THE JUNE MEETING TO JUNE 8, 2004,
THE MEETING SCHEDULE WAS RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE
3. Revised Membership Roster RECEIVED AND PLACED ON FILE
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Viewing of the Ethics Training Video
HELD OVER TO THE MARCH MEETING DUE TO HARDWARE DIFFICULTY
2. Affidavit of Disclosure filed by John Klein Construction Rehab Specialist in the Code
Compliance Office of the Planning and Neighborhood Development Department
City Attorney Roberts reported that he is unable to find where Mr. Klein would violate any of the standards of the Ethics Ordinance with the activity as proposed. Motion by Member Sullivan that based on the information and statements in Mr. Klein’s
Affidavit of Disclosure and interview with the Board of Ethics the Board finds no current conflict of interest, however, the Board recommends that Mr. Klein continue to be attentive to the separation of his personal business and the work that he does with the City of Lansing as presented. MOTION CARRIED 7/0