MONROE - Aldermen and other city officials will not be able to serve on the city's Ethics Board under a proposed ordinance revision heading to Monroe's Common Council.
The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee unanimously recommended the recreated ordinance at its meeting Monday, Feb. 10. The new version states that members of the Ethics Board not be city employees, elected officials, full-time appointed officials or a member currently serving on any other city board, commission or committee.
The ordinance will likely be introduced to the Common Council at its next meeting and will eventually require a public hearing.
City Attorney Rex Ewald, who drafted the new ordinance, said that when the Ethics Board is made up of city employees or officials, it creates a possible conflict of interest.
"The problem that's seen, and I agree that it's a problem, is that when that Ethics Board meets to investigate an ethics issue relating to somebody, chances are pretty good that it's either going to be a subordinate of somebody that sits on that committee or a superior of somebody that sits on a committee, and it makes it difficult, awkward and uneasy for the people who are in that position," he said. "And really, in theory, you could be worried that it affects the decision. So, it's just better to structurally make that committee membership separate from those concerns."
Current members of the Ethics Board include Mayor William Ross, who serves as chairman; aldermen Charles Schuringa, Brooke Bauman, and Louis Armstrong; and City Administrator Phil Rath. Other members are Stephanie Bachim, Jim Belke and Jerry Dahlen, according to the city's website.
The Ethics Board is responsible for developing opinions and policies to administer the city's ethics code; investigating alleged violations of the code and recommending appropriate sanctions; and rendering an opinion when there is a question if the ethics code applies to a given situation.
Ewald said the reconstitution of the board's membership is the only significant action that would need to be taken. "The rules of ethics remain unchanged, and there's no reason, in my mind, to change (them)."
The Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee unanimously recommended the recreated ordinance at its meeting Monday, Feb. 10. The new version states that members of the Ethics Board not be city employees, elected officials, full-time appointed officials or a member currently serving on any other city board, commission or committee.
The ordinance will likely be introduced to the Common Council at its next meeting and will eventually require a public hearing.
City Attorney Rex Ewald, who drafted the new ordinance, said that when the Ethics Board is made up of city employees or officials, it creates a possible conflict of interest.
"The problem that's seen, and I agree that it's a problem, is that when that Ethics Board meets to investigate an ethics issue relating to somebody, chances are pretty good that it's either going to be a subordinate of somebody that sits on that committee or a superior of somebody that sits on a committee, and it makes it difficult, awkward and uneasy for the people who are in that position," he said. "And really, in theory, you could be worried that it affects the decision. So, it's just better to structurally make that committee membership separate from those concerns."
Current members of the Ethics Board include Mayor William Ross, who serves as chairman; aldermen Charles Schuringa, Brooke Bauman, and Louis Armstrong; and City Administrator Phil Rath. Other members are Stephanie Bachim, Jim Belke and Jerry Dahlen, according to the city's website.
The Ethics Board is responsible for developing opinions and policies to administer the city's ethics code; investigating alleged violations of the code and recommending appropriate sanctions; and rendering an opinion when there is a question if the ethics code applies to a given situation.
Ewald said the reconstitution of the board's membership is the only significant action that would need to be taken. "The rules of ethics remain unchanged, and there's no reason, in my mind, to change (them)."