A. The Town Council hereby establishes the Ethics Commission for the purpose of reviewing alleged violations of this Code of Ethics and determining the validity of the alleged violations.

B. The Ethics Commission shall be compromised of three (3) members and two (2) alternates. The first member shall be a Council Member appointed by the Town Council, the second shall be a qualified elector appointed by the Town Council, and the third member shall be a qualified elector, appointed by the Town Council. The first alternate shall be a Council Member appointed by the Town Council and the second alternate shall be a qualified elector appointed by the Town Council.

C. Each member of the Ethics Commission shall serve for two (2) year terms.

D. Two (2) members of the Ethics Commission shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the Ethics Commission. If a member of the Ethics Commission is not available to attend a meeting, then an alternate may serve in his or her place. The Ethics Commission shall meet on an as needed basis, with the exception that the Ethics Commission shall meet meet as set forth below in subsection F of this section, when formal complaints of a violation of the Code of Ethics have been presented. All Ethics Commission meetings shall be public meetings, noticed by posting at Town Hall at least twenty four (24) hours prior to such meeting.

E. Each member of the Ethics commission or alternate serving in a member’s place shall be entitled to one (1) vote. A vote of the majority of the members (or alternate serving in the member’s place) of the Ethics Commission shall constitute an affirmative vote of the Ethics Commission for all matters including the enforcement of this Ethics Code and administering penalties.

F. Upon the Town’s receiving a complaint alleging a violation of this Code of Ethics, the Ethics Commission shall convene within thirty (30) days and hold a public hearing on the alleged violation, taking evidence from the person or group making the allegation and from the person against whom the allegation is made. Upon conclusion of the hearing, in the event the Ethics Commission determines by clear and convincing evidence that a violation of this Code of Ethics has occurred, the Ethics Commission shall make a report to Town Council with its findings and recommended penalty to the Town Council. The Town Council shall then consider the findings of the Ethics Commission before imposing penalties in accordance with this Code of Ethics. (Ord. No. 2022-06 §2 (Exh. A)).