by David Chapman
Staff Writer
After much debate and time spent in committees, an ordinance to include an ethics code in the City charter will go before the entire City Council following approval Tuesday from the council’s Finance Committee.
The majority of the committee’s meeting time was spent on the issue before members approved the Rules Committee-substituted ethics bill, Ordinance 2010-616, with a 5-0 vote.
Council President Jack Webb along with members John Crescimbeni and Glorious Johnson attended the meeting. Discussion turned to a recent joint meeting called for the Ethics Commission and Charter Revision Commission.
Each body has had different ideas on the addition of an ethics code and City Council member Denise Lee suggested during the Oct. 12 Finance Committee meeting that the two meet to discuss the differences.
The meeting, scheduled Nov. 10, was attended by Ethics Commission members and Johnson, but no one from the Charter Revision Commission.
The Charter Revision Commission fulfilled its requirements in February and is no longer a governmental body. Chair Wyman Duggan told the Daily Record recently that the body had made its recommendations and additional meetings would not be a “good use of anyone’s time.”
“It’s the City Council’s role to choose. You’ve got the Charter Revision Commission recommending one thing and the Ethics Commission recommending another,” said Duggan.
Lee said she was disappointed that the two commissions did not meet.
Several Finance Committee members and Webb advocated that the ordinance pass through committees so that the entire City Council could fully debate the issue Tuesday.
“I am confident a responsible compromise bill will get done,” said Webb, advocating for action despite the Charter Revision and Ethics Commission differences.
Much of the difference stems from provisions on the mechanisms for subpoena power and duplication of any state ethics codes.
Council member Ronnie Fussell, excused from Tuesday’s finance meeting, has suggested several amendments that would eliminate any duplication, remove a section of the ordinance and seek further recommendations and clarifications.
They will have to wait, though, and be presented as floor amendments when the issue comes before the full council.
Several community members turned out to oppose the amendments to the ordinance and instead leave it as is.
“We have to put the teeth back in it,” said John Nooney.
Public comment was taken before the Finance Committee discussed and voted on the measure, with many comments stating the amendments would weaken the body that should remain independent and offer full oversight.
Council will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
Also at the finance meeting:
• The committee approved an amendment to an ordinance regarding procurement that added language requiring the City to pay contractors and subcontractors directly for services rendered for up to $500,000 for which normal bonding requirements have been waived. The amendment is designed to encourage local small and emerging business participation.
• Approved an ordinance to appropriate $1.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Funds to JEA, which will use the funds to implement energy efficiency and conservation strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions and total energy use. The award period began July 13 and ends June 2, 2013.
• Approved an ordinance to reimburse $232,138 from the Florida Division of Emergency Management to the City for its deployment of the Mobile Incident Unit for its work assisting the BP Gulf oil spill recovery.
• Approved rent renewal for Downtown Vision to continue to reside in its Downtown quarters within the Ed Ball Building after the committee approved a lease agreement beginning Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, 2012. Rent on the 1,938-square-foot space is free, but DVI will be required to pay $1,000 for operating expenses.
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