Wichita city council members will talk about a proposed ethics policy during a workshop meeting Tuesday. Mayor Brandon Whipple said a policy has been one of his top goals since taking office.
Mayor Whipple said the policy would set up an independent board to investigate allegations of unethical behavior against an elected official, and it would set up due process to allow an official to provide a defense. He said a chairman would be appointed by the mayor and vetted by the city council, and this person would be someone from the fields of law or academics. A six-person board would be made up of members from city advisory boards.
Whipple said there would be penalties if someone is found guilty, and they would range from censure to a fine up to $1,000. There would also be limits on gifts that elected officials could accept.
A draft of the ethics policy will be presented to the Council during the workshop discussion. No formal action is expected on the policy until a later meeting.
