§ 2-255. Ethics administrator.

(a)

The ethics administrator shall be appointed by the legislative auditor of the unified government on the basis of a contract and shall function on a part-time basis. The ethics administrator shall maintain a fully operational telephone, internet and facsimile capability for the receipt internet of complaints and suggestions. The legislative auditor may delegate to the ethics administrator the authority to resolve minor ethical matters and questions. At the direction of the ethics commission, the ethics administrator may conduct all investigations of an alleged violation of the ethics code.

(b)

Compensation to the ethics administrator shall be in the form of billable hours not to exceed the amount usually budgeted for this purpose.

(c)

The ethics administrator shall have the authority to recommend to the legislative auditor to censure those in violation of the ethics code. Censure proceedings shall include, but not be limited to:

(1)

A memorandum of private censure from the legislative auditor to the unified government representatives which shall be given to the unified government representative and a copy placed in a personal file of the official maintained in the legislative auditor's office or, in the case of an employee, in the personnel file of the employee with the unified government;

(2)

A memorandum of public censure from the legislative auditor to the unified government representative which shall be given to the unified government representative and a copy posted on the unified government ethics website.

(3)

The authority to impose an involuntary leave with or without pay pursuant to personnel policy and procedure;

(4)

The authority to recommend demotion or other administrative steps as deemed necessary by the ethics administrator with the approval of the legislative auditor; and

(5)

Upon belief that the factual allegations support the reasonable belief that a crime may have been committed, refer the matter to the to the district attorney of the county for review and further action.

(d)

The ethics administrator shall be responsible for ethics training for all unified government representatives. Training shall be mandatory for all new unified government employees and newly elected officials within one year of their hiring or taking office. Additionally, unified government representatives shall undergo "refresher" ethics training at least once every three years at the direction of the ethics administrator.

(e)

Matters assigned to or investigated by the ethics administrator shall be deemed personal matters and not disclosed to any person except the accused the legislative auditor, the county administrator, the ethics commission and when appropriate, the district attorney.

(Ord. No. O-75-09, § 1, 10-1-2009)