Sandoval County Commissioners have ethics on their minds. At Wednesday’s meeting, the commission will consider updating the county’s ethics ordinance. Ethics board Chair Nancy Jinks will present the board’s first-quarter report later in the meeting.
New language in the ordinance would change the route taken by ethics complaints and do away with one layer of anonymity. Instead of a complaint against an elected official going directly to the county ethics board, it would be handled by a contract compliance officer, who would determine whether, if true, it would constitute a violation of the ordinance. If the compliance office found such a violation might have occurred, the matter would be sent to the chair of the ethics board. If not, the officer could dismiss the complaint and inform the person who made it of the dismissal.
The language in the proposed ordinance says any person who believes an ethics violation occurred would need to submit a sworn and signed complaint to the contract compliance officer, identifying the specific sections of the ordinance that were allegedly violated and any facts that would support such a finding. The contract compliance officer would refer a complaint against a classified county employee directly to the county manager or county attorney for disposition as an employee disciplinary matter. Most of the county workforce consists of classified employees.
The contract compliance officer would, if necessary, refer a complaint to the district attorney, attorney general or appropriate law enforcement agency to review for potential criminal conduct. All sworn and signed complaints, and the determination in each case, would be public records and made available under the state Inspection of Public Records Act. The New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act (NMWPA) still protects from retaliatory action against public employees who report unlawful or improper acts.
For now, commissioners are being asked to authorize publication of the new ordinance. Final approval would happen at the June 10 meeting.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
WHEN: 6 p.m. May 13
WHERE: Commission chambers, Sandoval County Administrative Building, 1500 Idalia Road, Building D, Bernalillo
Virtual: www.sandovalcountynm.gov