Via Jim Carlucci--Trenton Ethics Board Formation.

Jim Carlucci

As you know, the city council passed an ordinance in August creating a board of ethics for the city.  (See description below).  If you or anyone you know is interested in serving on the board, submit your resume and letter of interest to city council via the city clerk's office ASAP.  --Jim Carlucci

Next Steps for Trenton Ethics Board

1.     Council appoints 6 members

·        Minimum of 2 public members (non elected officials or City employees);  but all 6 can be public members

·        No more than 3 members of the ethics board shall be of the same political party

·        Must be Trenton residents

·        Members should be chosen by virtue of their known and consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge of local government affairs

·        Terms of service: 2 of the public members shall be appointed to serve for a term of five years, 1 member shall be appointed to serve for a term of four years, and the remaining members shall be appointed to serve for a term of three years.   (After this initial year, all terms will be 5 years for members.)

2.     Within 90 days of the appointments, the Ethics Board creates a Code of Ethics

·        The Code must be identical to Section 5 in the Local Finance Law

o If anything is added besides language to make it Trenton specific, the Local Finance Board must review first

·        The Board will adopt the Code, not the City Council

·        First, need to have a public hearing to hear input on the Code

o The Code will need to be made public, and notice of the hearing noticed in the newspaper and invitation sent to all employees, local authorities, Trenton appointed & elected officials (basically anyone who the Code will impact needs to be noticed about the hearing so that they can have input)

·        Board members will also elect at Chairperson (to be selected annually from amongst the Board members).