The Tallahassee Ethics Board wants more power to discipline city employees.
The ethics boardwants the ability to punish, not only elected and appointed local officials, but in some cases, city employees. Ethics Officer Julie Meadows-Keefe says the move is needed.
“The ethics board cannot discipline someone for violation of a policy. That’s up to individual supervisors. The ethics board however, would have the ability to penalize someone for violating the city’s ethics code because it does have the force of law,” says Keefe.
In addition to the jurisdiction expansion, the board also wants a complete ban on gifts to local officials and high-level employees. Right now, the threshold is set at $100.
Editor's Note: No date has been given for when the city commission will take up the recommendations. The original version of this story noted a June 18th public hearing. On June 18th the COUNTY commission will take up recommendations from the Citizen Charter Review Committee, not the Tallahassee Ethics Commission.