I support Chair Lee's amendment and suggest minor edits. Section 2.56.080(A) requires a pay RANGE or pay scale. Currently, Section (B) for the Executive Director position only has a max pay and not a min pay; so, there is no range as required by (A). Solution: add a minimum pay of $175,000. That aligns with the proposed pay for Directors in the County, and more importantly, the Executive Director for the Board of Ethics must be a licensed attorney. The voters support funding the Board of Ethics. Also, please amend the current Budget Bill to include funds to pay these 3 employees. At a minimum, the Board of Ethics will need 3 employees: Executive Director ($217,984), Investigator ($101,064), and Administrative Assistant ($89,829). Fully finding the Board of Ethics is required by the Charter and shows a good faith effort by the Council to begin the process of establishing an independent Board of Ethics that can begin to heal wounds from past transgressions and regain public trust in local government. Therefore, include a minimum of $417,984 to the proposed Board of Ethics funding for the current year and FY 2026.
Proposed amendment to Section 2.56.080 Salaries. A. The annual salary for all board of ethics staff must be set by the council by resolution within the pay range and pay scales established in this section.
B. The annual salary for the executive director of the board of ethics must BE AT LEAST $175,000 and not exceed $227,091.
I support Chair Lee's amendment and suggest minor edits. Section 2.56.080(A) requires a pay RANGE or pay scale. Currently, Section (B) for the Executive Director position only has a max pay and not a min pay; so, there is no range as required by (A). Solution: add a minimum pay of $175,000. That aligns with the proposed pay for Directors in the County, and more importantly, the Executive Director for the Board of Ethics must be a licensed attorney. The voters support funding the Board of Ethics. Also, please amend the current Budget Bill to include funds to pay these 3 employees. At a minimum, the Board of Ethics will need 3 employees: Executive Director ($217,984), Investigator ($101,064), and Administrative Assistant ($89,829). Fully finding the Board of Ethics is required by the Charter and shows a good faith effort by the Council to begin the process of establishing an independent Board of Ethics that can begin to heal wounds from past transgressions and regain public trust in local government. Therefore, include a minimum of $417,984 to the proposed Board of Ethics funding for the current year and FY 2026.
Proposed amendment to Section 2.56.080 Salaries. A. The annual salary for all board of ethics staff must be set by the council by resolution within the pay range and pay scales established in this section.
B. The annual salary for the executive director of the board of ethics must BE AT LEAST $175,000 and not exceed $227,091.