County Ethics Board Organizes

The Meade County Ethics Board met during a called meeting Monday (4/8) evening for the purpose to organize it’s operation.

Board members took up organizational issues at the beginning of the meeting by unanimously selecting Sam Malloy as secretary.

Board members also discussed the recommendation proposed by Meade County Fiscal during a special called meeting last week regarding the storage of the records for the ethics board. County Attorney Sydney Durham has informed Fiscal Court and the Ethic Board that she wishes not to handle ethics complaints or records. At her recommendation along with Fiscal Court, the county will place a lockable file cabinet in the basement records room where the Ethics Chairman and Vice Chairman would have a key to the cabinet. A third key would be in the Judge Executive’s office for open records requests since the Ethics Board members are not at the courthouse full time. The third key usage would be logged in order who had access to the records. After some minor discussion, the board approved the recommendation.

Board members are needing more information on the process of the public or staff submitting a complaint form to the board electronically. It was noted that an non-electronic method was needed in order to allow people who don’t use a computer or electronic device to be able to submit a complain to the Ethics Board. Board Chairman Patrick Hoke said he would research the issue further and get back with the board on the issue.

Chairman Hoke read the amended procedures of the Ethics Board to the members. The board unanimously approved the procedures.

Board members heard comments from Attorney Jonathon Ricketts related to a recently submitted complaint made by Troy Seeyle. Ricketts urged the board to seek legal counsel in order for the process to function properly. Fiscal Court had instructed the board to determine if a complaint was valid before asking to hire legal counsel on a case by case basis.

After discussion, the board moved to seek legal counsel before moving forward with the complaint.  The board is expected to ask members of Meade County Fiscal Court to provide legal counsel at their meeting Tuesday (4/9) night during their regular meeting.