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REGULAR MEETING <br />DECEMBER 14, 2015 <br />Councilmember Dieter said we have had dozens of things we have never investigated and given <br />them to other places to investigate. He gave the examples of the former police chief and former <br />deputy mayor who went to work with businesses who had done work with the City after they <br />left. He asked if each would be investigated if this went through. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded that this gives the Council the ability to investigate or <br />develop an ethics commission to ensure transparency giving the Council more teeth within the <br />given law to do their job better. He also stated the Council has the opportunity to hire counsel <br />and has a full -time counsel. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked when it was stated earlier that this was done in Indianapolis, <br />if all state employees are currently under this rule. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded yes. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked who would serve on the ethics commission. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. stated that you would have the ability to set that commission and the <br />Council has that authority. He stated this opens the door to have more authority in this certain <br />situation. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if employees have to follow this even if they don't have a <br />formal contract. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded you do have a contract verbally and when you cash your <br />check. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if those other places that have this have not just left it up to <br />the corporate counsel. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded they have moved away from a one (1) person system. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if this would be for new hires. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded yes this is for new hires and not existing employees. <br />Councilmember Ferlic asked do you see the City initiating a city suit and seeking monetary <br />reparations. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded I'm giving you the authority to do your job better and that <br />we can come up with more reasonable ideas for how this works. <br />Councilmember Dr. Varner questioned the enforcement mechanism and how it exists. He <br />thought the idea of an ethics idea is an appropriate idea. <br />Councilmember Dr. Ferlic stated this bill says effective January 1" 2016 for any person who <br />works as an appointee, employee or official upon separation from the City and that these people <br />have to go before an ethics committee according to the bill. He asked if the wording is correct. <br />He stated Chicago and other cities have multiple exceptions but this bill does not have those <br />exceptions. <br />Councilmember Davis Jr. responded that at the end of the day you are not allowed to misuse the <br />public trust and the public tax dollars. <br />Councilmember Valerie Schey stated she appreciated this concern because there was concern <br />when the former chief left for ShotSpotter and that might be an example of the sort of behavior <br />you are trying to address. She asked the City Attorney if the language is as broad as the <br />councilmembers are reading it. <br />Aladean DeRose, City Attorney, responded that depending on who is interpreting this bill it is <br />capable of a very broad interpretation down to staff level employees and believed this is a <br />regulation not a statute of the state law. <br />Councilmember Schey stated the spirit of this bill is good but the language should be tweaked. <br />Councilmember White stated we may not clean up the bill at this time but I would like to give <br />the public an opportunity to address the bill. <br />7 <br />