Neighborhood Resource Center Community Meeting Room
Indian Springs Mall, Lower Level
4601 State Ave., Kansas City, KS
Minutes
Meeting of January 9, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 5:10 PM. In attendance were Commission Price, Chairman, and Commissioners Anaya, Caruthers, Young, and Stewart. Dr. Frederickson, the Ethics Administrator was also present. Five representatives of the media were also present.
Dr. Frederickson reported the resignation of Michael Manske, the Assistant Ethics Administrator.
Review and acceptance of minutes from the November 14, 2006 meeting.
The only agenda item was the matter of use of procurement cards by senior BPU staff for meals and entertainment.
It was first indicated that the members of the Ethics Commission had received copies of receipts and other documents covering the Kansas City area meals and entertainment of senior BPU staff for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006. The Commissioners indicated that they had reviewed these documents.
There ensued a general discussion among the Commissioners of the evidence in these documents.
Following the discussion a motion was made by Commissioner Stewart, seconded by Commissioner Anaya to send a letter to the Board of Public Utilities which would summarize the general finding and opinion of the Ethics Commission regarding the use of BPU procurement cards for meals and entertainment by senior BPU staff. That letter should also include specific recommendations to the Board and senior staff regarding ways to improve procurement card policies and procedures having to do with meals and entertainment. The Ethics Administrator agreed to write a draft of that letter and to circulate it to the members of the Ethics Commission for their suggestions for revisions. It was agreed that a final draft of that letter would be completed by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 11, 2007. Once a final draft is agreed upon it is to be sent to the Board of Public Utilities and made available to the media.
The motion passed unanimously, with the understanding that the letter is part of the record of this meeting and an action of the Ethics Commission at this meeting.
