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<br />of interest law, the commission shall dismiss the complaint. and provide notice, including the <br />reasons for the dismissal, to the complainant and to the person accused. <br /> <br />(3) If the commission determines that the complaint is in proper form and alleges sufficient <br />facts to constitute a prima facie violation of a provision of this article or a state conflict of <br />interest law, the commission shall schedule a hearing on the complaint. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />(c) Hearings. <br /> <br />(1) The commission will adopt rules of procedure to govern hearing on complaints. The rules <br />will allow for the presentation of evidence by the complainant and the person accused, and cross <br />examination of witnesses. <br /> <br />(2) The chair of the commission or any person acting in that capacity, and the recording <br />secretary of the commission, are authorized to administer oaths to persons who testify at hearings <br />conducted by the commission. <br /> <br />(d) Ex varte communications. It is unlawful for a person who has filed a complaint alleging a <br />violation of this article or a state conflict of interest law by a city officer or employee, or a person <br />against whom such a complaint has been filed, to communicate verbally or in writing about the <br />subiect matter of the complaint with a member of the ethics review commission at any time other <br />than during a public meeting of the commission. All such communications by such persons to the I <br />commission outside of a public meeting of the commission must be directed to the city attorney. <br />The city attorney will collect all such communications and provide them to the commission with <br />the agenda materials for the meeting at which the complaint is considered. The city attorney will <br />make copies of these communications available to interested persons in accordance with state <br />law. <br /> <br />(e) Sanctions. If the commission determines at the conclusion of a hearing that a violation has <br />occurred, it may impose or recommend any of the following sanctions: <br /> <br />(1 ) A letter of notification, if the violation is clearly unintentional, or when the official or <br />employee's action was made in reliance on a written opinion of the city attorney. A letter of <br />notification shall advise the official or employee of any steps to be taken to avoid future <br />violations. <br /> <br />(2) A letter of admonition, ifthe commission finds that the violation is minor and may have <br />been unintentional, but calls for a more substantial response than a letter of notification. <br /> <br />(3) A reprimand, ifthe commission finds that the violation: <br /> <br />(A) was minor and was committed knowingly, intentionally or in disregard of this article or a <br />state conflict of interest law; or <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />(B) was serious and may have been unintentional. <br /> <br />10 <br />