Members of the Dallas Ethics Advisory Commission discussed vacant seats and the timing of appointments and considered how final sanctions resulting from commission hearings will be reported.

Commissioners noted several vacancies have been communicated to council members by the city secretary and that terms for current members continue until September. Laura Morrison of the City Attorney’s Office advised that the municipal inauguration is in late June, the council typically recesses in July and council work on the budget intensifies in August and September. She said those calendar realities make early fall the likeliest time to see movement on board-and-commission appointments.

The commission also discussed whether panels should be informed of the final disciplinary steps taken after the panel makes a recommendation. Morrison said personnel decisions for current city employees are private. As she stated at the meeting, that is “a private personnel decision that then should not be shared, with anyone unless, you know, it’s the the person the employee themselves who wants to share it.”

Inspector General Bart Beavers told the commission he supports a practice of reporting final, council-determined sanctions in the IG quarterly report when the final action occurs in a public forum. Beavers said that approach would allow the commission to track outcomes of panel recommendations that are finalized at public council meetings, while respecting confidentiality for employee personnel matters.

The commission agreed to revisit vacancies at its October meeting and asked staff to return with any necessary follow-up on reporting practices and calendar timing.