More than a year after Austinites and reporters raised questions about Frank Rodriguez’s continued ties to Latino HealthCare Forum, a nonprofit he founded while he was serving as a senior policy adviser for Mayor Steve Adler, the issue came before the Ethics Review Commission. In a complaint filed last Aug. 3 by the Office of […]
City of Austin Ethics Review Commission
The Ethics Review Commission is charged with review of, among other issues, ethics complaints leveled against City of Austin boards and commission members. They meet quarterly.
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics Review Commission dismisses case against Human Resources director
The city of Austin professes to have a “mother-friendly” work environment that supports new moms and working parents. However, a complaint filed in December by the Office of the City Auditor brings that policy into question. The complaint filed by Brian Molloy, chief of investigations for the city auditor’s office, alleges that Joya Hayes, director […]
Posted inElections
‘Valid’ ethics complaint dismissed for being unconstitutional
Last October, Mayor Steve Adler’s campaign manager, James Wick, filed an ethics complaint against Megaphone GPAC, a general purpose political action committee opposing the mayor’s re-election. At the time, several attorneys opined that the complaint would be dismissed due to a previous 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, but the case continued to advance […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: The bonus no one wanted
Violations that make lawyers giggle… On Jan. 9, the Ethics Review Commission heard the preliminary case of DeShawn Scott, an administrative specialist in the Public Works Department, who used his city computer for purposes related to his own outside businesses: Texas Go Freezee, a shaved ice stand; and Taco Sweets, a truck that offers ice cream […]
Posted inCity Hall
Austin Energy employee accused of fraud found to be ‘not in violation’
After three hours of discussion surrounding the definition of “intent” in application to fraud, the Ethics Review Commission found Curtis Graves, Austin Energy’s former superintendent of system operations, not in violation of city code by virtue of three votes. “You are here accused of misrepresenting the hours you worked on your timesheet for gain,” Chair […]
Posted inCity Hall
Camelback is back, but this time at the Ethics Review Commission
After so much contention and inflamed passions on both sides, it’s no surprise that the story of the Camelback planned unit development did not end with the Nov. 1 approval by Council. On Dec. 12, the Ethics Review Commission heard a preliminary case against Jim Duncan, the vice chair of the Zoning and Platting Commission […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics Review Commission declines to weigh in on city anti-discrimination and harassment policy
City Council recently asked the Ethics Review Commission to review its proposed amendments to the anti-discrimination/anti-harassment portion of the City Code, which includes language such as “No City official or employee shall engage in conduct or use language that is offensive, harassing, sexually suggestive, or hostile.” Last Wednesday night, the ethics commission debated whether Council’s […]
Posted inElections
City ethics rule may be unconstitutional
Mayor Steve Adler’s campaign manager filed an ethics complaint Tuesday against Megaphone GPAC, a general purpose political action committee opposing the mayor’s re-election. But it seems likely that the complaint will be dismissed, according to attorneys familiar with election law. Adler’s campaign manager, Jim Wick, noted that the committee’s treasurer, Luke McAlpin, filed Megaphone’s appointment […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Who stands alone?
You can’t say that… During a discussion at Thursday’s City Council meeting about a city home repair program for low-income households, Mayor Steve Adler took an opportunity to remind those watching about the $250 million affordable housing bond that will be on the ballot this November, stressing that it would provide funds for repairs to […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics commission considers examining possible ‘dark money’ violation
Members of Austin’s Ethics Review Commission are eager to examine a potential violation of the city’s “dark money” campaign finance law that has generated press attention and speculation in city political circles in recent weeks. At Wednesday night’s meeting, Commissioner Debra Danburg read from a recent Austin American-Statesman investigation into the funding of a political […]
Posted inCity Hall
Final hearing scheduled for fraudulent vacation time case
After retiring in June of last year, Curtis Graves, a former superintendent of system operations at Austin Energy, found out that he was under investigation for his use of vacation and sick time by both Austin Energy’s internal Human Resources team and the Office of the City Auditor. On Aug. 8, Graves came before the […]
Posted inCity Charter
Ethics Review Commission weighs in on potential charter changes
In the midst of discussions about soccer stadiums, CodeNEXT and the 2018 bond, the Charter Review Commission is asking citizens to consider one more thing: changes to the city charter. At its June 13 meeting, members of the Ethics Review Commission tweaked the proposed charter change language and recommended that City Council consider implementing their […]