Laserfiche WebLink
BOOK 99 619 <br />DISCUSSION ON ETHICS ORDINANCE CONCERNING INDIAN RIVER <br />MALL GRAND OPENING EWITATIONS AND OTHERS <br />Commissioner Bird opened discussion advising that he had <br />received numerous invitations recently relative to the opening of <br />the Indian River Mall and other events and that he would be <br />precluded from attending many of these events because of the Ethics <br />Ordinance as it is presently. He believed the ordinance to be an <br />affront to the honesty and integrity of the Board of County <br />Commissioners and staff, that it was too stringent and restricts <br />the ability of Commissioners to do their job. He recommended that <br />it be softened or that the County revert to the State Statute which <br />governs the Constitutional Officers and others. <br />Commissioner Eggert stated that the ribbon -cutting is <br />something she wanted to attend, but she felt the $50 Gala tickets <br />(for the benefit of United Way) should not be accepted by Board or <br />staff members. <br />County Attorney Vitunac reasoned they could make the $50 Gala <br />donation themselves and go to the Gala. They were not prohibited <br />from going to the other (free) events at the Mall. <br />Commissioner Eggert thought that people should be able to go <br />to the openings, but she understood the hesitancy of attending an <br />event given by a consultant that could be hired by the county. <br />Chairman Adams thought it became difficult to separate. With <br />respect to the invitations to the Gala, she felt that staff was <br />being recognized for their efforts. She wondered if there might be <br />an exception in the ethics ordinance to permit staff to go with the <br />complimentary tickets if the Board were to agree on it. In an <br />effort to narrow the issue to the Mall opening, she summarized the <br />two issues which needed to be determined today: should staff go to <br />the Gala and what was the real intent in setting up the Ethics <br />Ordinance. <br />Commissioner Macht pointed out that this is a fund raiser, and <br />that staff is well-paid and able to make a contribution just like <br />anybody else. He wondered if the Board was ready to get into a <br />situation where people are expressly recognized for doing, <br />possibly, more for one organization than for another. <br />Chairman Adams and Commissioner Eggert felt staff does equally <br />for everybody. <br />County Attorney Vitunac thought a plaque would be an <br />acceptable exception, but he did not think exception number 7 meant <br />for rewards to allow staff to go free to a $50 function. <br />102 <br />• November 5, 1996 <br />I <br />