March 23, 2023 |
Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
A proposed ethics ordinance scheduled to be considered on first reading by Rawlins City Council this week was removed from the agenda by amendment at the start of the meeting.
The proposed 8-page ordinance lays out rules of “Ethics and Professional Conduct Policy for Elected Members of the Governing Body”, as well as appointed officials and city employees. The draft provides various definitions covering a range of topics, such as misuse of office, conflict of interest, and nepotism.
The draft ordinance also provides a remedy for infractions, including removal or censor of public officials, and presents procedures for removal of any councilman “for cause.”
Councilman Darril Garner is presenting the ordinance as an amendment to Chapter 70 of Rawlins City Code.
Before council approved the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, typically one of the first actions the governing body takes after the Pledge of Allegiance, Garner asked to have his ethics amendment struck from the agenda.
Section 1 of Title 1 of Rawlins City Code is the first ordinance on the city books. It requires any ordinance or resolution presented to the Governing Body to be reviewed first by City Attorney “for legal compliance and sufficiency.”
The mayor and the three members of the council who were present at the meeting approved the amendment to remove ethics ordinance from meeting agenda without further discussion.
