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<br />The Ethics Commission may be permitted to recoup actual investigative and <br />administrative costs not to exceed ten thousand dollars per violation where <br />an intentional violation has been found. <br /> <br />Rationale: Critics of the Ethics Commission point to the inadequate penalties the <br />Ethics Commission can impose against violators of the ethics ordinance. The fine <br />structure needs to be revamped to give the Ethics Commission the ability inflict a <br />larger fine against wrongdoers where intentional violations are found. In effect, <br />by doubling the fine from $500 to $1,000 for the first count and from $1,000 to <br />$2,000 for each subsequent count, proportionality is achieved and deterrence may <br />result. <br /> <br />Local government officials, officers, appointed board members and employees <br />who commit serious breaches of the public trust should lose their right to continue <br />to serve the public. This Task Force recommendation would give the Ethics <br />Commission the right to forward its final order to the appropriate individual or <br />entity with the authority to take disciplinary action and ask such party to consider <br />the Ethics Commission's finding and take whatever action is deemed appropriate <br />under the circumstances. <br /> <br />Furthermore, offenders who profit from their unethical behavior should be <br />compelled to relinquish these profits. Without the power to disgorge profits when <br />necessary, the offenders may end up profiting from their unethical enterprise. <br /> <br />I3 <br />