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Board of Ethics
The Board of Ethics was created in 2018 with the adoption of the City's first Ethics Ordinance. The Board is responsible for:
- Hearing Ethics Complaints filed against City Officials;
- Providing City Officials with advisory opinions on how the Ethics Ordinance applies; and
- Reviewing Ethics Ordinance and proposing amendments to the City Council.
Ethics Ordinance
The Ethics Ordinance (PDF) defines the ethical rules of conduct for Denton City Officials. Key provisions of the Ordinance include:
- Defines a Conflict of Interest as any income or ownership in a business, or ownership of property over $600;
- Prohibits City Officials from deliberating on matters when a Conflict of interest exists;
- Requires City Officials to disclose and financial information as required by law and business partnership information annually;
- Prohibits City Officials from accepting gifts over $50 and no more than $200 per year; and
- Creates penalties for those found to have violated the Ordinance up to a recommendation of suspension.
Filing a Complaint
Individuals wishing to file a complaint against a City Official must complete an Ethics Complaint Form (PDF). This form includes instructions for filing a complaint. Completed complaints should be submitted to the City Auditor's Office. The Ethics Complaint Process Packet (PDF) details the process followed by the Board once an Ethics Complaint is submitted.
The Ethics Ordinance applies to certain City Officials including:
- The Mayor and City Council;
- The Board of Ethics Members;
- Historic Landmark Commission Members;
- Planning and Zoning Commission Members;
- Public Utilities Board Members;
- Zoning Board of Adjustment Members;
- The City Manager, Attorney, and Auditor; and
- The Municipal Judge.
These City Officials are required to complete training on the Ethics Ordinance annually. In order to complete this training City Officials must:
- Observe the City Officials Ethics Training Video; and
- Read Local Government Ethics in a Nutshell (PDF).
City Officials must then submit a signed copy of the Ethics Training Certificate Form (PDF) to the City Auditor's Office.
Advisory Opinions
The Ethics Ordinance allows any City Official to request an Advisory Opinion on a question of compliance with the Ethics Ordinance. Advisory Opinions are written rulings regarding the application of the Ordinance to a particular situation or behavior.
It is an affirmative defense to an Ethics Complaint that a Respondent reasonably relied upon an Advisory Opinion in good faith if it was issued less than five years before the Complaint was filed and the request fairly and accurately disclosed the relevant facts.
Meeting Materials
Minutes from meetings that took place after March 28, 2019 are located on the Public Meetings page under Archived Meetings. Access audio records of the Board of Ethics meetings. View additional meeting materials in our Agenda Center.