Pickens County to publish ethics ordinance draft; work session outlines complaint process and possible sanctions

The Pickens County Board of Commissioners reviewed a draft ethics ordinance that would codify ethical principles for elected officials and staff and establish procedures for filing and adjudicating complaints.

The chair explained the draft draws language from state law (citing OCGA 45-10-1) and lists ten ethical principles proposed for inclusion, including avoiding conflicts of interest and refusing private promises that bind public duties. The draft would create a panel of attorneys who may serve as ethics officers; the county clerk would maintain the panel list. Complaints would be heard by an ethics officer who would hold a hearing where the person complained against could speak; the ethics officer would then issue a recommendation to the board of commissioners.

Possible recommendations noted in the draft include verbal censure, disciplinary action as specified in existing personnel rules, or termination of employment where authorized; if a complaint concerned an elected commissioner, that commissioner would be required to recuse themselves from deliberations. The chair said the ordinance would not replace other disciplinary or employment authorities set out in employee handbooks but would provide a distinct ethics process.

Commissioners expressed support for adopting a clearer ethics process. One commissioner called the measure “long overdue for the counties.” The chair confirmed the ordinance draft and related items will be on the Feb. 15 public-hearing agenda.

Next steps: the ordinance will be posted for public comment and proceed through the county’s public-hearing process on Feb. 15.