Council Subcommittee

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON CODE OF ETHICS, IN SPECIAL MEETING OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 AT 1:00 P.M., GILBERT MUNICIPAL CENTER I, COMMUNITY ROOM 202, 50 E CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Subcommittee Chair Scott Anderson, Vice Mayor Kathy Tilque and Councilmember Jim Torgeson COUNCIL ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Town Attorney Chris Payne, Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Town Clerk Herrera called roll and declared a quorum present. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Consider approval of the minutes of the Subcommittee on Code of Ethics Meeting of August 24, 2023. A MOTION was made by Vice Mayor Tilque, seconded by Chair Anderson, to approve the minutes of the Subcommittee on Code of Ethics Meeting of August 24, 2023. Motion carried 3-0. 2. Discussion on Code of Ethics Policy and process. 1 Town Attorney Payne shared the updated language for the Code of Ethics, and Code of Conduct. He then opened the discussion for the proposed change in the Code of Ethics document. The Subcommittee members were in agreement with the changes as shown. Vice Mayor Tilque stated in order to be transparent and fair, if the complainant was a Councilmember, she felt they should not have an opportunity to speak to the complaint since a member of the public did not. She asked. Councilmember Torgeson spoke in agreement and felt councilmembers should be held to the same standards and expectations. Town Attorney Payne stated that any complainant would not have the opportunity to speak to the complaint and that should apply to councilmembers as well. He discussed councilmembers abstaining from voting on the item, whether they were both the subject of the complaint or the complainant. Vice Mayor Tilque asked how the voting should be handled regarding sanctions if the complainant was a Councilmember and abstained from voting. Town Attorney Payne confirmed the language in the policy and the required votes. Vice Mayor Tilque asked how they would handle two Councilmembers filing a joint complaint. Town Attorney Payne stated they would be handled as separate complaints. Vice Mayor Tilque recommended the information on abstaining from discussion or vote be included in the policy as well. Town Attorney Payne shared the policy documents and there was discussion on where to include it. Vice Mayor Tilque requested that it be referenced in the Code of Conduct that the conflict of interest was also outlined in the Code of Ethics policy and asked how it would be reflected on the website. Town Clerk Herrera shared what she envisioned for the website and how the forms would be viewable and Vice Mayor Tilque was supportive of the recommendation. 3. Discussion on next steps. 2 Town Attorney Payne advised the changes would be put on a future agenda and Council would have time to review it before voting on it. Town Clerk Herrera clarified that the item would be placed under the Policy Items section of the agenda. 4. Action Items a) Set dates for future subcommittee meetings No future dates scheduled at this time. b) other action items as assigned No additional action items assigned at this time. ADJOURN Subcommittee Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting at 1:19 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Scott Anderson, Chair Chaveli Herrera, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the Subcommittee on Code of Ethics of the Town of Gilbert held on the 3 12th of October, 2023. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________2023. ___________________________________ Chaveli Herrera, Town Clerk 4