San Francisco Ethics Commission meets in closed session on executive director hire, votes not to disclose deliberations

The San Francisco Ethics Commission on Dec. 8 voted to meet in closed session to discuss the public-employee appointment of an executive director and, after returning to open session, voted to withhold disclosure of the closed-session deliberations.

Chair Lee announced the closed-session item under California Government Code provisions and the administrative code (as read into the record). A motion to go into closed session was made, seconded and passed on a roll call that recorded five affirmative votes.

When the commission returned to public session, a motion "to not disclose what was discussed in closed session" was made and seconded; roll call recorded votes in the affirmative and the motion passed. The chair also explained that the on-screen notice would state the commission was meeting in closed session and that audio/visual would resume upon reconvening.

During the public comment periods tied to the closed-session item, a member of the public (Ellen) urged the commission not to hire new city employees until previously terminated unvaccinated employees were rehired and repeated claims that 1,168 people had been wrongfully terminated; she warned of further litigation if the commission proceeded. Those public comments did not change the commission's vote to enter closed session or its subsequent decision not to disclose deliberations.

Why it matters: hiring an executive director is a central staffing decision for the commission; the decision to withhold closed-session deliberations is governed by state law and the commission’s rules and limits public visibility into the reasons for personnel actions.

Next steps: The commission will continue the closed-session process in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions; no disclosure of deliberations was made at the Dec. 8 meeting.