Wednesday, January 9, 2002
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Wednesday, January 9, 2002 |
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Criminal background check now required for appointees to Peachtree City ethics board By JOHN
MUNFORD Applicants to Peachtree City's ethics board will now be held to a higher level of accountability: a criminal background check. The new requirement was approved 4-1 at Thursday's City Council meeting, representing the first initiative from new Mayor Steve Brown that passed muster. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin, who said she was concerned about the potential embarrassment to applicants, was the dissenting vote. Brown said he just wanted to make sure that future ethics board members don't have "any major felonies" in their past that could bring embarrassment to the city. "I sort of feel it's a personal invasion of their privacy," McMenamin said. She recalled an instance when a citizen was embarrassed when a background check for an alcohol license revealed a criminal accusation against him that occurred when he was younger, and he was eventually exonerated. Although McMenamin said she appreciates the importance of the ethics board, "I just have a problem with an invasion of privacy for a volunteer-type board." McMenamin also pointed out that those background checks would become public records. But Councilman Dan Tennant pointed out that applicants would be made aware of the requirement and could choose not to apply for an ethics board position. New Councilman Murray Weed said even if something comes up on an applicant's background check, the City Council has the ability to "forgive" that person if warranted. "This doesn't say if you've got a felony that you are no longer an appropriate candidate or an appropriate applicant," Weed said. Council also unanimously passed a requirement for individuals named to the ethics board to attend a workshop on the city's ethics ordinance once they are informed of their appointment to the board. The mayor and each council member are responsible for appointing two citizens each to the ethics board in the January following each municipal election. That creates a pool of 10 board members, although only five are chosen to hear any given ethics complaint. The five members are chosen to serve on a panel along with two alternates in a random drawing that takes place at the first public meeting following the receipt of the ethics complaint, according to the city ethics ordinance. The ordinance empowers the ethics board to hear and investigate any ethics complaint filed against a city official or employee. If the board determines that the ordinance was violated, it can issue one of three reprimands: An admonishment not to violate the ethics code in the future; A formal reprimand; or Public censure and/or recommendation to the City Council for removal from office. The board also can choose to dismiss a complaint or recommend changes to city policies and practices so the ethics ordinance's standards may be met.
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