Committee discusses bill outlining official removals
A committee met Wednesday to discuss a bill that would allow for the removal of a county elected official because the Senate “stripped out (the) bill” completely, said author Rep. Michael Aylesworth, R-Hebron.
Aylesworth drafted a bill that outlined the procedures to remove an auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and assessor for not going into work at least one day a month. The original bill stated a county council and board of commissioners would pass a resolution, with a public hearing before both boards, to remove the official, and pass the issue before the courts.
The bill was drafted after former Lake County Recorder Michael Brown did not show up to work for 18 months, Aylesworth said. The purpose of the bill is to remove the “bad apples” elected to public office, he said.
“It’s a good tool to have for counties to have when someone isn’t accountable,” Aylesworth said.
On Wednesday, a conference committee of House and Senate members met to discuss a draft of the bill because Aylesworth made changes to the bill to incorporate the original bill and the Senate amendment.
The draft still states the bill applies to the same elected officials and still states a county council and board of commissioners have to hold public hearings and approve a resolution to be considered by the courts to remove the official.
But, the Senate added that the three reasons to remove the official would be for: charging or collecting illegal fees for services, refusing or neglecting to perform the official duties of the office or misuse of funds as a township executive.
The Senate did not like the original language of the official required to go into work at least one day a month, so Aylesworth said he changed the language to state the official has to go into work “for a reasonable amount of time” during business hours.
The preliminary draft also states that the official will still be paid while the process to remove him or her is underway.
But, if a court agrees the official should be removed, then he or she will have to pay back the salary received during the removal process – which will last about 30 days, Aylesworth said.
The conference committee members will now take the preliminary draft back to their respective caucuses.
Once the caucus sign off that the changes are approved, then the bill will be considered by the House again, Aylesworth said.