Ethics complaint against mayor dismissed
An ethics complaint filed by Lakeway Council Member Jean Hennagin against Mayor Joe Bain on Feb. 1 was closed by the Board of Ethics on Feb. 14, after discussion by a board subcommittee concluded the allegations were “frivolous” and didn’t rise to the level of an ethics violation.
The initial complaint alleged that, in the posting for a scheduled special City Council meeting Jan. 29 to discuss recommendations by the charter review committee, the agenda for the meeting was not made clear enough. The agenda states the City Council will “consider approving the Charter Review Committee recommendations to amend the Lakeway City Charter for submission to the voters in the May 5, 2018, special election.”
City Manager Steve Jones confirmed he was the person who wrote the language of the agenda. The Board of Ethics subcommittee concluded the agenda was as specific as previous agendas have been.
Hennagin also cited in her complaint that Bain allowed former Mayor Dave DeOme to speak for nearly six minutes, though typically public comments are limited to three minutes each. The board subcommittee said the mayor’s decision to let DeOme speak that long was “a judgment call” and not a hindrance under ethics code.
“The subcommittee does not believe that any ethical complaints were made,” the subcommittee report read. “Ms. Hennagin may have procedural complaints, but most were directed at judgment calls. There isn’t anything alleged that raises to the level of a hindrance under 2.04.031(6). As such, Ms. Hennagin’s complaint is dismissed as frivolous as these terms are defined by the Code.”