SUGAR LAND, Texas — Meredith Reidy, the city attorney for Sugar Land, conducted the commission’s required annual ethics training during the Dec. 10 Building Standards Commission meeting, reviewing conflict-of-interest rules, gift reporting, procurement restrictions and the Independent Ethics Review Board process.

Reidy summarized key obligations for board members: disclose a special economic benefit if you own a meaningful stake in a structure or if your income ties you to an entity on an agenda item; file a conflict disclosure with the city clerk and abstain and leave the room when required. She highlighted the gift-reporting threshold mentioned in the training: report lodging, transportation, entertainment or food gifts that exceed $100 cumulative per vendor in a rolling 12‑month period, with a higher $500 threshold for meals that require engagement with the vendor.

Reidy also reviewed procurement and post‑service restrictions: board members may not enter into contracts with the city while serving and for two years after their term (with limited exceptions for personal property); the city treats a cumulative contract value of $1,000 or more as a substantial business amount for these purposes, per her presentation.

Using a hypothetical about a council member whose daughter operates an inflatable‑kayak rental, Reidy explained how appearance of favoritism and active participation by an interested official can create continuing conflicts that may trigger referral to the Independent Ethics Review Board. “If the council member had abstained after disclosing the economic interest, the ethics board told me there likely would not have been a violation,” Reidy said during the training. The hypothetical covered downstream liabilities, including possible fines (the ethics board example cited at least a $2,000 fine) and other sanctions.

Reidy answered commissioners’ questions about which online trainings are required by the attorney general’s office, noting that open meetings/open records modules are separate and must be completed (she cited a 60‑day completion window from swearing in). She invited commissioners to request written ethics opinions when they need tailored guidance.

The training ended with a short question-and-answer period; commissioners then moved to adjourn the meeting.