Mayor prohibits directors, aides from having city contracts

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Mayor Chris Beutler signed an executive order Monday that prohibits city department directors and mayoral aides from contracting with the city.

The order covers five aides and 11 directors.

“The directors and aides hold positions of authority and influence in my administration,” Beutler said in a press release. “They are valued members of my team, and they are here because I trust their judgment. Nevertheless, I want to avoid even the appearance of impropriety that naturally arises when a high-ranking city officer contracts with the city.”

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Mayor Chris Beutler

Mayor Chris Beutler

The employees covered by the order are at-will employees, who can be fired by the mayor.

Other city employees and council members can have city contracts, but council members cannot vote on their own contracts.

Beutler thanked members of the Charter Revision Commission for bringing the potential conflict of interest issue to the attention of the community.

The commission had asked the City Council to put on the May ballot an amendment that would have prohibited elected officials and directors from having contracts with the city. The City Council voted against the amendment in March. Opponents to the ban said it would make it difficult for business people to run for city office.

In April, Councilman John Spatz proposed an ethics ordinance that did pass and was signed by Beutler.

It continues to allow the contracts, but adds more regulation to the process if a city employee or elected official — or a  member of their immediate family — has a “significant financial interest” (defined as 5 percent or $5,000 investment) in the business holding the contract.

Also in April, a petition drive formally was launched to allow people to vote on whether to amend the city charter to flat-out ban such contracts. If enough signatures are gathered, the issue will be on the November ballot.

Beutler said he continues to support the effort to put the original charter amendment on the November ballot.

No department directors or mayoral aides have contracts with the city at this time.

The five mayoral aides covered are Rick Hoppe, Trish Owen, Denise Pierce, Jon Carlson and Mike Lang.

The 11 departments covered are Building and Safety, Finance, Health, Law, Parks, Personnel, Fire, Police, Public Works, Planning and Urban Development.