Commissioners Tweak Ethics Ordinance

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved a minor modification to the county's Ethics Ordinance Thursday dealing with the scheduling of meetings, but postponed a more important decision dealing with a conflict of interest that could have a major impact on County Coroner Lauren McDonald.

During Thursday's public hearing, Dist. 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell said one employee "has been in violation for years."

Bell didn't mention McDonald by name, but confirmed Saturday that he was referring to McDonald. Bell said the ordinance prohibits a county employee from seeking or holding an elected office. McDonald has been employed by the county Fire Department for 14 years and was elected coroner in 2000.

Reached by phone Saturday, McDonald said, "I don't know that I'm in violation. I would never intentionally violate an ordinance. The county has a county manager and a county attorney. I would have expected them to tell me if I'm in violation. If I am, I would stop today."

Bell added that he didn't believe McDonald had intentionally violated the ordinance.

The change that has been proposed would put McDonald in compliance. But Dist. 2 Commissioner Brian Tam's motion to postpone a decision until the March 15 meeting was approved by a vote of 3-2 with Bell and Todd Levent opposed.

"I'd just like further time to digest what's before us," Tam said.

Levent pointed out that the board had discussed the changes in a work session and held two public meetings on the issue. Bell said, "I don't know how much more time is needed to digest it. This has been going on for two and a half to three months. To me it's just a waste of time and money."

Commissioners did approve a change in the way the Ethics Board meetings are scheduled. In the past, regular meetings were held on the second Tuesday in May and November. With the change, regular meetings will still be held in May and November, at a day and time to be set by the board's chairperson. Special meetings will be held in the same months but may be called by the chairperson or a majority vote of the board.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a change to the Alcohol Ordinance that would, pending voter approval of this week's referendum, authorize the sale of beer and distilled spirits on Sunday between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., effective on March 18.

The board also unanimously approved a change to the Parks and Recreation Ordinance the county attorney Ken Jarrard said extend more power to the Parks and Recreation Board with respect to issuance and enforcement of policies, rules and procedures.