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* the Commission dismissed summarily as lacking merit four <br />complaints dealing with allegations of unethical expenditures cf <br />city funds; <br />+ the Council dismissed due to insufficient evidence one complaint <br />dealing with allegations of unethical use of influence; <br />* the sixth complaint dealing with allegations of abuse of power was <br />withdrawn by the complainant. <br />There were no ethics complaints filed with the Commission <br />between 1995 and 2001.. (March 12 and Apri123, 2002 Meetings) <br />D. The Ethics Commission plays a valuable educational and <br />informational role in the community. It raises awareness of the <br />fundamental importance in our democracy of government officials <br />and citizen advisory commission members understanding and <br />practicing good ethics. (AllMeetings) <br />E. The Ethics Commission plays an important role in financial <br />disclosure. Through the ethics resolution, many public officials are <br />required to report significant financial interests each year. Such <br />reporting helps avoid conflicts of interest and builds public trust in <br />their public officials. (All Meetings) <br />F. The Ethics Commission plays an important role in reviewing <br />periodically the standards of ethical conduct with which public <br />officials mu s t comply. (All Meetings) <br />G. The investigatory role of the Ethics Commission i� problematic <br />because it is a volunteer body that lacks subpoena power. <br />However, the Task Force does not recommend granting the <br />Commission subpoena power. (AllMeetings) <br />H. The Ethics Commission presently has the capacity to differentiate <br />complaints made to it that are substantive from those that are <br />political in nature. However, its ability to judiciously and fairly <br />review all complaints it receives could be enhanced by clarification <br />of the requirements of-the ethics code and the procedures <br />employed to review complaints. [Apri12, 2002 meeting) <br />Recommendations <br />In light of these findings, the Ethics Task Force makes the following <br />recommendations: <br />l. That the City Council enlarge the enabling authority of the <br />Ethics Commission to authorize the Commission to review <br />� <br />h <br />� <br />� <br />