HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmendment to Orange County Board of Commissioners Advisory Board Policy 001
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 21, 2012
Action Agenda
Item No. 5-j
SUBJECT: Amendment to the Orange County Board of Commissioners' Advisory Board
Policy
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ethics Excerpt from Policy with
Proposed Amendment John Roberts, 245-2318
Highlighted
PURPOSE: To amend the ethics provisions of the Orange County Board of Commissioners'
Advisory Board Policy.
BACKGROUND: In February 2012 the Board of Commissioners adopted a general policy
document to establish controls and procedures for numerous Orange County advisory boards
and commissions. The document is extensive and imposes numerous requirements on
members of and applicants to advisory boards. Among the requirements are ethics provisions
for all advisory board members and additional requirements for members of specified advisory
boards. Since the adoption of the policy in February, staff members have become aware of
certain actions by advisory board members that raise concerns that the ethics provisions may
be inadequate. For that reason the County Attorney recommends the Board of Commissioners
amend the policy to include a requirement that advisory board members be specifically
prohibited from utilizing a position on an advisory board for personal gain or profit.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with adoption of the
recommended amendment.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the amendment to
the Orange County Board of Commissioners' Advisory Board Policy.
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Orange County Board of Commissioners.
k. Recognizing that they are part of a larger group and acting accordingly.
I. Recognizing that individual board members are not generally allowed to act
on behalf of the board, but may only do so if the board specifically so
authorizes,and that the board must take official action as a body.
m. Being faithful in the performance of the duties of their offices.
n. Acting as especially responsible residents whom others can trust and
respect.
o. Faithfully attending and preparing for meetings.
p. Carefully analyzing all credible information that is properly submitted to
them, and when applicable, being mindful of the need not to engage in
communications outside the meeting in quasi-judicial matters.
q. Being willing to bear their fair share of the board's workload.
r. To the extent appropriate, they should be willing to put the board's
interests ahead of their own and shall avoid the appearance of a
conflict of interest and shall, under no circumstances, use their
position on any board for personal gain or profit.
2. Members of the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Economic Development
Commission, and Board of Equalization and Review shall upon initial appointment,
and prior to December 31 annually thereafter,disclose:
a. Any interest he or she or his or her spouse or domestic partner has in real
property situated in whole or in part in Orange County and the general
description of that property.
b. Any legal, equitable, beneficial or contractual interest he or she or his or her
spouse or domestic partner has in any business, firm or corporation, which
is currently doing business with Orange County pursuant to contracts
awarded by Orange County, or which is attempting,or has attempted in the
past calendar year,to secure the award of a bid from Orange County or the
approval of any Board or Agency of Orange County.
c. Failure to file a disclosure statement setting out the above required
information shall result in immediate removal of the member from the
applicable board.