Request for Revision of Proposed Amendments to DONE Code of Conduct

Whereas, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners has before it consideration of proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct Policy applicable to Neighborhood Council Board and Committee Members;

Whereas, the existing Code of Conduct applicable to Neighborhood Councils should be amended to create a greater enforcement mechanism; and

Whereas, the proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct submitted by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (“DONE”) to the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (“BONC”) grant too much discretion to DONE in determining guilt and imposing penalties.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that:

BONC is advised against approving the proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct in their current form;

The [_____ NC/CC] requests that the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, in consultation with an ad hoc group of Neighborhood Council members, revise the proposed amendments to ensure they afford Board and Committee members adequate due process rather than granting the Department sole discretion to immediately suspend a Member based on an alleged violation of applicable rules;

Any amendments to the Code of Conduct must take into account varying degrees of conduct when considering suspension and appropriate penalties, if warranted;

The Code of Conduct shall require that the minimum correction necessary to address any issue be used;

The Workplace Equity Policy shall be incorporated into the proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct only if formally adopted by the City prior to the Neighborhood Council City Department Review process, and in the alternative, the Code of Conduct shall incorporate the City’s Workplace Violence Policy and Guidelines.