Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Ethics Minutes 04.14.26 MINUTES LANSING CITY BOARD OF ETHICS REGULAR MEETING April 14, 2026, 5:30 PM Meeting Room Lansing Elections Office 701 W Jolly Rd Lansing The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim DeLine, Chairperson Rachelle Franklin, Vice Chairperson Jim Cavanagh Luna Brown Ryan Wier R Cole Bouck Charles Filice ABSENT: Janielle Houston, Excused A QUORUM WAS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT: Emelia Pierce, member of the public Duncan Darnell, City Clerk’s Office Intern Brian Jackson, Chief Deputy City Clerk Chris Swope, City Clerk Greg Venker, City Attorney PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Jim Cavanagh to approve the agenda MOTION CARRIED SECRETARY’S REPORT: Approval of Minutes Moved by Luna Brown to approve the Minutes of March 10, 2026 MOTION CARRIED Resignation of Board of Ethics Member Janielle Houston Moved by Jim Cavanagh to accept the resignation MOTION CARRIED Communication from Councilmember Clara Martinez Reporting Recusals Placed on file Requests for Formal Opinion on Council Member Conflict of Interest Board discussed the requests, and were provided legal guidance on the options available to the Board to respond to a request for a formal opinion. City Attorney shared that a similar question has also been presented to the City Attorney and stated his determination that it was not a legal conflict of interest if City Council had taken a vote about the land sale and re-zoning for the Data center proposal. Moved by Cole Bouck that the Board will not provide an opinion at this time in response to the requests for a formal opinion. MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS: Affidavit of Disclosure, Joseph Sterle, Police Department Moved by Cole Bouck to place Joseph Sterle’s Affidavit of Disclosure on file, having found no violation of the Ethics Ordinance at this time. MOTION CARRIED Statements of Financial Interests with no items disclosed Jake Brower Mayor's Office Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Parker Human Resources Department Chief Labor Negotiator Melissa Glasscoe Mayor's Office Manager Moved by Cole Bouck to place all Statements of Financial Interests with no items disclosed listed above on file, having found no violation of the Ethics Ordinance or other issues to further debate or discuss at this time. MOTION CARRIED Statements of Financial Interests with items to be reviewed Commented [DD1]: Removed the R because the other two motions he made didn’t have it either Statement of Financial Interests Peter Spadafore, City Council Member Moved by Jim Cavanagh to place the Statement of Financial Interests on file having found no violation of the Ethics Ordinance or other issues to further debate or discuss at this time. MOTION CARRIED Statement of Financial Interests Christopher Wright, Treasurer Moved by Cole Bouck to return the Statement back to Christopher to finish Part I to note if his past employer has any funding or contracts with the City of Lansing. MOTION CARRIED Statement of Financial Interests Brian Jackson, Chief Deputy City Clerk The Statement provided in the packet was the draft version of his Statement that was not signed and notarized. However, the final notarized and signed copy was available and was reviewed at the meeting by members of the Board. Moved by Jim Cavanagh to place the amended Statement of Financial Interests on file having found no violation of the Ethics Ordinance or other issues to further debate or discuss at this time. MOTION CARRIED Statement of Financial Interests Mark Lawrence, Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Moved by Ryan Wier to place the Statement of Financial Interests on file having found no violation of the Ethics Ordinance or other issues to further debate or discuss at this time. MOTION CARRIED CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: None. CHAIR’S REPORT: Chairperson DeLine thanked Patrick Abood and the Board in general for their work over the past year and a half to review the Ethics Manual, Ethics Ordinance and review the minutiae of the ordinances and procedures. TABLED ITEMS: None. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Continued Review of Ethics Ordinance Chapter 290 The Board of Ethics reviewed and discussed the first draft of proposed edits to the Ethics Ordinance and made additional recommendations which will be reviewed and provided suggested language by the City Attorney’s Office. The second draft will be reviewed at a future meeting. MOTION CARRIED Moved by Jim Cavanagh to adjourn. MOTION CARRIED ADJOURNED: approximately 6:15 p.m.