Sec. 602.612. - Organization.

(a) Staffing. (1) General staffing. The Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight shall be staffed, at the discretion of the Ethics Commission, and subject to available funding, with a director and such other executive positions approved by Council, each of whom must be knowledgeable and experienced in management, leadership, auditing, oversight, investigation, training, contract administration, and clerical functions deemed necessary to the proper functioning of the office. (2) Director. (i) Appointment. The Director of the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight shall be a registered Duval County voter at the time of hire, or shall relocate to Duval County within six (6) months of hire, and shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years by the Jacksonville Ethics Commission, and the appointment shall be confirmed by Council. The Director shall be exempt from civil service. (ii) Separation. The Director may be separated from employment by the Jacksonville Ethics Commission before the completion of his or her term for cause, which shall include misfeasance, malfeasance, or conduct unbecoming or detrimental to the performance of his or her position or the integrity of the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight. Separation shall only be effected at a public meeting, and only after the employee has been provided a minimum of 60 business days written notice of the basis for cause and has been provided an opportunity to be informally heard at the public meeting. The 60-day written notice shall be reduced to 15 days written notice in the event of the Director's arrest for a felony. (iii) Vacancy. In the event of a director vacancy, the position shall be filled temporarily by a non-confirmed appointment by the Ethics Commission for a period not to exceed 180 days, and then as provided for in subsection (i) above. (3) Volunteers. The Director may utilize the services of such volunteer personnel who have agreed to perform services without compensation, in accordance with the volunteer policies of the Division of Human Resources. Such volunteer personnel shall act with such authority as granted by the Ethics Commission. (b) Administrative support. (1) Additional staffing. The Director of the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight shall have the power to appoint, employ, and remove such other personnel as is deemed necessary for the efficient and effective administration of the activities of the office, subject to the budget approval of City Council. All such appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Director and shall be exempt from civil service. (2) Supplemental support. To the extent that additional support is necessary beyond that which is funded by Council, administrative support shall be provided by the Office of General Counsel, and investigative support shall be provided both by the Council Auditor's Office and the Office of General Counsel, all at the request of the Ethics Commission. (3) Legal Support. Pursuant to the Charter, the Office of General Counsel shall provide legal services to the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight. Recognizing that legal conflicts may present themselves from time to time, special counsel may be retained in accordance with Section 108.505 Ordinance Code. (c) Qualifications. The Executive Director shall have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a preference for an advanced degree in applied ethics, law, or public administration; at least ten years experience in related activities such as administration of an ethics office or activity, ethics related legal work, criminal justice administration; and administrative experience. (Ord. 2011-197-E, § 1)