Knox County ethics subcommittee continues code edits; focuses on disclosures, gifts and formatting

The Knox County Ethics Committee subcommittee advanced further edits to the countyode of ethics on Jan. 14, reviewing definitions, proposed disclosure procedures and a reorganization of the gifts section while setting a near-term schedule to codify changes for the full County Commission.

The chair opened the session on the code by asking the committee to start on page 3, section 1 (definitions). Marcus Sanders said he had suggested striking language he viewed as ambiguous and cautioned that the committee must preserve due process in any adjudication of ethics violations: "We've got to give people due process," he said.

Members debated a proposed addition in Section 2 that would require annual filing of disclosures with the county clerk even if no conflicts arise. Steven Goodpaster said annual filing could be onerous and suggested that disclosures triggered by specific interests and regular training might suffice.

Section 3 and 4 drew attention to procedures for nonvoting disclosures and a long list of items that "shall not be a violation." Committee members recommended moving items currently numbered 4 through 20 into a clearer "acceptable items" subsection (4.2) and cleaning duplicate language so the document reads consistently. Crystal Gibson urged uniform formatting for lists and numbering.

Marcus Sanders told the committee he will be absent for the next month for a medical procedure and introduced Rachel Harrison, an attorney in his office, as a legal resource for drafting and research. The chair said the goal is to codify suggestions at the next meeting and present the committee's proposed code to the Knox County Commission for consideration; the committee agreed to resume at section 4.2 in two weeks.

No formal penalties or final policy changes were adopted at the meeting; members focused on editorial and structural revisions and on ensuring that the committee's draft aligns with the law director's office comments and county rules of procedure.