Date: February 8, 2021
To: Members of the Ethics Commission
From: LeeAnn Pelham, Executive Director
Subject: Agenda Item 11 – Executive Director’s Report for February 2021
Summary
This report provides various programmatic and operational highlights since the last Executive Director’s Report.
Action Requested
No action is required by the Commission, as this item is for informational purposes only.
Hiring and Staffing Updates
We continue to make progress on our five position vacancies posted in mid-December: Client Support Specialist; Policy Analyst; Investigator; Information Systems Business Analyst; and Audit and Compliance Review Manager. The application period closed for each in January and these recruitments have now entered the interview phase.
The services of Ethics Commission staff members have continued to be requisitioned for the City’s emergency response to COVID19 through the Disaster Service Worker (DSW) program. Since June 2020, both Auditor Manisha Lal and Senior Investigator Thomas McClain have been on full-time extended DSW assignments. Effective February 8, Tommy will move to the City’s Human Services Agency on a permanent basis as he has decided to accept a new position with that department continuing to coordinate the City’s response to address food insecurity. Tommy has been an outstanding member of our staff team for three years, and while we are very sorry to see him move on from his role in our Enforcement division, the City is fortunate that it will continue to have the benefit of his experience and talents. We wish him all the best.
We have received approval from the Mayor’s Office to proceed with filling this vacancy and will report on further developments at next month’s meeting.
Revenues Reports
The table below shows the revenues received by the Commission during the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2020, as of February 5, 2021.
Summary of FY20-21 Revenues
| FY 20-21 Budgeted Amount | FY 20-21 Receipts as of February 5th | |
|---|---|---|
| Lobbyist Registration Fees | $85,000 | $90,000 |
| Lobbyists Fines | $2,000 | $1,550 |
| Campaign Consultants Fees | $7,000 | $5,350 |
| Contact Lobbyist and Other e.g., copies made by public | $2,450 | $0 |
| Statement of Economic Interests Filings-Late Fees | $1,250 | $850 |
| Campaign Consultant Fines | $2,000 | $1,900 |
| Campaign Finance Fines (includes late fees and forfeitures) | $50,000 | $18,900 |
| Ethics, Other/ Administrative Fines Levied by the Commission | $7,500 | $32,288 |
| Major Developer Fee | $0 | $500 |
| Total | $157,200 | $151,338 |
I look forward to answering any questions or providing further information at the upcoming Commission meeting.