Comments on: City’s Ethics Board Attorney Recommends Independent Hiring Process

By: Donald Duck

Donald Duck — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:00:58 +0000

Get the lawyers out of it and hire someone who is in deed an ethical person whose operates in an independent position. Do the people of Tallahasee really think a lawyer hired by a lawyer who all are appointed by the City Commissioners is actually going to tell their employers they are acting “in an unethical
Manner” and discipline and censure them.
Really?

By: Ben Poitevent

Ben Poitevent — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 20:51:50 +0000

The question presented to Mr. Currington was apparently limited to the sole question of whether or not the ethics board has the authority to hire an ethics officer without advertising the position.
Mr. Currington responded that they can if they establish procedures for doing so. He opined that as an independent board they are not bound by city rules and procedures and, therefore, have authority to draft their own personnel rules and procedures.
I agree with Mr. Currington, for whom I have great respect, for his clarity on the independent status of the board, and for his guidance to the board to draft its own procedures.
Ms. Jabar, or other board members, should ask for more guidance from Mr. Currington. For instance, does the Chair have authority to bind the board to contractual obligations without a public vote. Are rules and procedures in place giving her such authority. In the absence of such authority are existing contracts null and void?
Can ANY action of the board not taken in a public meeting be valid?
What, if any, actions of the board are not subject to the “sunshine law?”
The board is in need of further legal guidance from Mr. Currington, they just have to ask.

By: brad

brad — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 14:53:16 +0000

Why would anyone on that board even think of operating like the city?? Truly the policies and those who put them in place are the problem and I hope that they separate in full from any and all resemblances of operating like the city. Finally, the best candidate for this office is one that has never been a lawyer or has ever worked for the government but has integrity, dedication, trustworthiness, love of the community and a good understanding of right and wrong.