Legislature(1993 - 1994)
06/08/1993 01:15 PM House ETH
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE ETHICS
June 8, 1993
1:15 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Joseph Donahue, Chair
Ed Granger
Margie MacNeille
Shirley McCoy
Edith Vorderstrasse
Senator Jay Kerttula
Senator Drue Pearce
Representative Brian Porter
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1:15 p.m. by Chairman
Joseph Donahue in the 5th floor conference room of the
Anchorage legislative offices. Members present were:
Donahue, Granger, Kerttula, MacNeille, McCoy, Pearce,
Porter, and Vorderstrasse.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING OF APRIL 22-23, 1993
Chairman Donahue noted that the minutes of the April 15th
meeting had been revised to put them into the format
adopted, but no changes had been made to the content.
Senator Kerttula moved and asked unanimous consent that the
minutes of the April 22-23, 1993 meeting be approved. There
was no objection and the motion was adopted.
3. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was adopted.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
A member of the public inquired when the committee would
deal with the complaints before it. Chairman Donahue
indicated that the agenda covered what would be addressed at
this meeting. The subcommittees would be discussing the
complaints before them (which are confidential) in executive
session.
4. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
a. PUBLICATION OF THE MINUTES
The committee had a request from House Records to publish
the minutes. Mr. Granger expressed a desire to have the
minutes completed as quickly as possible. Representative
Porter suggested that the minutes be sent to members with a
certain period of review before they were published.
b. REPORTS ON DISCLOSURES
The chairman asked if the committee wanted to develop a
standardized category of things to be reported on at each
meeting.
The chairman stated that he and his wife had submitted
statements of disclosure. Senator Pearce suggested that the
chairman have a copy of the disclosures available at the
meetings for the members to review.
c. MAIL RECEIVED/ANSWERED
The chairman noted that he was receiving information from
COGEL (Council on Governmental Ethics Laws) which dealt with
ethics issues. The information would be available in the
office.
d. BUDGET
The chairman stated that the committee had not been funded
at the requested amount. There was intent language in the
budget that passed which said the Legislative Council would
help the committee meet its needs. The chairman indicated
that he had drafted a memo to Legislative Council
summarizing the budget situation. The Legislative Council
did take the issue up but did not fund it. Senator Pearce
stated that the letter was presented at the Council meeting.
The Finance committees had closed out the budget by the time
the Ethics budget was presented. She felt that there was
money available within the legislature and that by August
the legislature would know what the amount of carryforward
funds was and then a request to Council could be made.
Representative Porter expressed concern regarding the budget
and the perception of having to deal with Legislative
Council on it.
e. OFFICE AND EQUIPMENT
The chairman indicated that the Ethics committee had been
assigned secure space on the second floor of the new
Anchorage legislative space. There was some question about
whether the office equipment was available at this time.
f. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES
Under authorization of travel and signatory authority, for
purposes of travel the chairman had approved the two vice-
chairs to sign if he is unavailable.
The chairman indicated it was his intent to secure a post
office box for the mail.
6. STATUS OF LEGAL AGREEMENT
The chairman stated that a contract had been signed with
Bogle and Gates and was available in the members' packets.
A better price had been negotiated than was presented in the
RFP. The contract was valid through June 30, 1993.
Ms. MacNeille moved and asked unanimous consent that the
committee extend the contract through the end of December.
Senator Kerttula moved to amend the motion to a 90-day
extension based on the funds available. The amended motion
was passed with unanimous consent.
7. SELECTION OF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT
The chairman informed the committee that there had been over
120 applications for the position. The criteria for
evaluation was in the members' packets. Ten have been
contacted for consideration.
Senator Kerttula asked if the legislators other than those
on the Ethics Committee could attend the executive session
on this issue. Senator Pearce stated that the policy was
that any legislator could attend any executive session, but
must sign a confidentiality statement. The question of
executive sessions regarding complaints and allowing other
legislators to attend was raised. It was agreed to seek Mr.
Spaan's advice on the issue.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 2:03 p.m. Ms. MacNeille moved and asked unanimous consent
that the committee of the whole go into executive session
for the purpose of discussion which might be prejudice to
the persons involved. The motion was adopted with unanimous
consent.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
The committee of the whole reconvened at 2:55 p.m.
Senator Pearce moved that the chairman take action on hiring
an administrative assistant for the Select Committee on
Legislative Ethics after the process and reference check
have been completed. There was no objection and the motion
was adopted.
At 3:05 p.m. Ms. Vorderstrasse moved and asked unanimous
consent that the main committee recess for a Senate
subcommittee meeting. There was no objection and the motion
was adopted.
SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING CONVENED
The Senate subcommittee was called to order at 3:05 p.m.
with all members present. Senator Kerttula moved and asked
unanimous consent that the subcommittee go into executive
session for the purpose of discussion which might be
prejudice to the persons involved. The motion was adopted
with unanimous consent.
The Senate subcommittee reconvened at 4:50 p.m. in public
session. Ms. MacNeille moved and asked unanimous consent
that the chairman be authorized to select, negotiate and
sign contracts with providers of investigative services
under section 150 (b) of the Legislative Procurement
Procedures for complaints S1-13 not to exceed a total of
$20,000 and to designate the chairman as the project
director. Ms. McCoy asked if unanimous consent was allowed
when a large amount of money was involved. The chairman
indicated that unless someone objected, unanimous consent
was allowed. There was no objection and the motion was
adopted.
The Senate subcommittee was recessed to the committee of the
whole.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RECONVENED
The committee of the whole reconvened at 4:57 p.m. The next
meeting was tentatively scheduled for August 12th and/or
13th.
Ms. MacNeille moved and asked unanimous consent that the
committee adjourn. There was no objection and the motion
was adopted.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
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