It’s a 3-2 ethics vote by Board
A change on the Town’s ethics standards raised some eyebrows during Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Thursday, Nov. 14.
Despite concerns, however, the Board conditionally voted 3-2 to approve amendments to its existing code of ethics standards for Town officers and employees on first reading.
Mayor Ron Williams, Vice Mayor Scott Meyer and Alderman Drew Burnette voted for the motion. Aldermen David White and Alex Cain voted no.
There will need to be a second reading to change the ordinance, which addresses “setting limits on and/or providing for reasonable and systematic disclosure of gifts or other things of value received by officials or employees that affect or appear to affect their discretion.”
“...The Town adopted the initial Code of Ethics in February 2007,” Finance director/Recorder Allison Myers said.
“The Town is electing to now adopt the MTAS model code of ethics, which combines these two restrictions with other ethics provisions that municipalities have commonly adopted,” she added.
“When it comes to ethics, there should never be any gray area or a chance that an elected official/staff member abuse the system based on the interpretation of the policy,” Cain said. “I can move forward with this if we take out the word ‘may’ nine times and replace it with ‘shall.’”
“I’m distressed and confused,” White said. “I never want to change the law that holds us accountable for anything.”
Town administrator David Smoak said two paragraphs taken out stated, “‘it shall not be a violation of this section for employees to take and accept certain types of gifts of a certain monetary level.’ In essence, (the amendments) are more strict with this ordinance than the prior ordinance ... .”
