Nov 04, 2024 Board of Ethics on 2024-11-04 5:30 PM (Special Called)

November 04, 2024 Board of Ethics 319168

Meeting Details
Meeting Date: November 04, 2024
Board: Board of Ethics
Video ID: 319168
Has Transcript: Yes
Has Agenda: Yes
AI Summary by Dentron 3000

Meeting Summary: Board of Ethics Special Called Meeting Date: November 4, 2024 Time: 5:30 PM – 5:34 PM Location: Council Work Session Room, City Hall, Denton, TX

Key Topics and Discussions - The Board convened to conduct an evidentiary hearing for Ethics Complaint No. 24-002, which was determined actionable on October 7, 2024, regarding alleged violations of Ethics Ordinance Section 2-273. - Following roll call, three board members (Patricia Ranke, Justin Pavlik, and Mel Ramsey) recused themselves due to prior appointment by the complainant. - Remaining members discussed procedural requirements, noting that Board rules mandate a minimum of four members to constitute a quorum. Discussion addressed whether the hearing could be postponed and the potential impact on the statutory 30-day hearing timeline.

Motions, Votes, and Outcomes - No motions were made or voted upon. - The evidentiary hearing could not proceed due to a lack of quorum. - The meeting was adjourned at 5:34 PM.

Decisions Made - The official record will reflect that no action was taken on Ethics Complaint No. 24-002 due to insufficient board membership to meet quorum requirements.

Action Items or Next Steps - The City Auditor will review Board rules and applicable ordinances to determine the appropriate procedural path forward, including whether the complaint must be rescheduled, refilled, or if the 30-day hearing deadline is automatically extended. - The Board will reconvene for its regularly scheduled meeting following a brief recess.

Agenda Chapters
1. 1. ROLL CALL
0:18 - 0:56
2. A. Evidentiary Hearing regarding Ethics Complaint No. 24-002, determined to be Actionable by a Panel of the Board of Ethics on October 7, 2024, concerning alleged violations of Ethics Ordinance Section 2-273. This Hearing is being conducted under the authority of Denton Code of Ordinance Article XI (Ethics) Section 2-281(c).
0:56 - 5:16
Transcript
537 words
yes it is okay it is Monday November 4 2024 530 p.m. and I am calling a special meeting of the Board of Ethics together to to order and I would like to start with a roll call to establish a forum. Chair Ranzee? Here. Vice Chair Pavlik? Here. Member Everhard? Here. Member Zoltner? Here. Member Rankin? Here. Everyone, all of the current members are here. So I've established that there is a quorum present. This is an evidence hearing hearing regarding the ethics complaint number 24-002 determined to be action and will by a panel of the Board of Ethics on October 7th 2024 concerning alleged violations of ethics ordinance section 2-273. This hearing is being conducted under the authority of Denton code of ordinance article 11 section 2-281 parenthesis C. So I would like to call for any abstentions if we have any. I don't know if I'm supposed to abstain or not. If you were appointed by either the complainant or the with my name. I also have to recuse because I was appointed by the complainant. And I am going to recuse myself. So that is Patricia Ranke, Justin Pavlik, and Mel Ramsey. So under the rules of your meetings you have to have a quorum to conduct business under section 2-281 meetings B. A quorum is at least four members. Since three has recused at least two members and there is no quorum to be able to take action. Okay so we will make those affidavits during the break and so we don't have a quorum so this hearing is going to have to be postponed until we have enough members for a hearing. We need two more people correct to take action. Right in order to postpone somebody would have to make a motion to postpone and since you lack a quorum I don't believe that you can postpone this hearing. Okay so what is our action? So the record is going to reflect no action could be taken due to lack of quorum. Okay so that is effectively the end of this hearing this evening. So we will take a five minute break and we will re-intern for our regular meeting. I have a question before we do. If we postpone now we are would take us outside of that 30 day. Now do we need to cancel this and reschedule or do we start over because we would be well beyond the 30 day hearing? In order to postpone we would have to have a quorum. Somebody would have to make a motion to postpone and then you can't postpone. So the record is going to reflect no action was taken due to lack of quorum. So we automatically are extended then or rescheduled. There's nothing in the rules that addresses that so that's a question that the city auditor will look into. The possible actions are refiling of the complaint because there was no action taken due to lack of quorum. Just touching bases. Yeah. So is this meeting adjourned? We are now adjourned at 5 34 p.m. on Monday November 4th. So we will have a break until a quarter to six and then we'll be adjourned.
Agenda
2 pages
City of Denton City Hall 215 E. McKinney St. Denton, Texas 76201 www.cityofdenton.com Meeting Agenda Board of Ethics Monday, November 4, 2024 5:30 PM Council Work Session Room Special Called After determining that a quorum is present, the Board of Ethics of the City of Denton, Texas, will convene in a Special Called Meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney Street, Denton, Texas at which the following items will be considered: SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - CALL TO ORDER 1. ROLL CALL 2. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION A. BOE24-039 Evidentiary Hearing regarding Ethics Complaint No. 24-002, determined to be Actionable by a Panel of the Board of Ethics on October 7, 2024, concerning alleged violations of Ethics Ordinance Section 2-273. This Hearing is being conducted under the authority of Denton Code of Ordinance Article XI (Ethics) Section 2-281(c). Attachments: Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information Sheet.pdf Exhibit 2 - Received Ethics Complaint - Redacted.pdf Exhibit 3 - Panel Determination.pdf Exhibit 4 - Complainant Evidence Packet.pdf Exhibit 5 - Respondent Evidence Packet.pdf Exhibit 6 - Ordinance 23-2251 - Ethics Ordinance.pdf Exhibit 7 - Board of Ethics Rules of Procedure.pdf Exhibit 8 - Ethics Complaint Process Packet.pdf NOTE: The Board of Ethics reserves the right to adjourn into a Closed Meeting on any item on its Open Meeting agenda consistent with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, as amended, or as otherwise allowed by law. CERTIFICATE I certify that the above notice of meeting was posted on the official website (https://tx-denton.civicplus.com/242/Public-Meetings-Agendas) and bulletin board at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney Street, Denton, Texas, on November 1, 2024, in advance of the 72-hour posting deadline, as applicable, and in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. ____________________________________ OFFICE OF THE CITY SECRETARY Page 1 Printed on 11/1/2024 Board of Ethics Me…

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