Las Vegan may seek new ethics hearing

The Las Vegas man whose ethics complaint against Clark County building officials was dismissed last week said Monday that he might request a rehearing based on new information he received over the weekend.

Robert Rose said he received a letter from Lee Ann Keever, former executive secretary of the Nevada Ethics Commission, on Sunday citing a similar case in which a state official was found in violation of ethics laws.

Rose's complaint accused building administrators of soliciting businesses they regulate to raise money for a nonprofit organization.

The complaint targeted Building Department Director Robert Weber, Assistant Director Ron Lynn and Gregory Franklin and Gary Houk, both assistant managers of the inspections division.

The Ethics Commission voted 5-1 on Friday to dismiss the case saying while the officials' behavior "created the appearance of impropriety," they did not benefit personally or financially and therefore did not violate the law.

Rose said Keever's letter cites a case in which a Department of Motor Vehicle employee collected money from used car dealers for various charities. Although the employee never identified himself as a DMV employee and raised funds on his own time, the Ethics Commission ruled he violated ethics laws.

"This sheds new light on the whole situation," Rose said. "I think it should be looked at again so we might ask for a reconsideration."

Rose and co-complainant UNLV Professor Craig Walton argued last week that building officials had collected money from businesses during inspections, behavior that made some individuals feel intimidated.

Inspectors collected money for the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), a non-profit organization whose members include officials in the construction industry. The money is used to fund Educode, a seminar that keeps contractors up to date on building codes.

Rose and Walton said not only were building officials raising funds during work, but they also used county equipment and time to create and mail brochures.

An investigative report showed the county spent more than $7,000 on Educode materials.

Attorney Stanley Parry, who represented Weber, said employees of the building department have always been directed to finish their county duties before working on ICBO-related projects.

He said the building officials' involvement in ICBO benefits the public, and they should be commended for their commitment to the organization.

"Nothing was done here that benefited anyone other than the public," Parry said.

In a memo written on Nov. 1 -- about five months after the ethics complaint was filed -- Weber directed his staff to stop soliciting businesses during work hours.

But Weber said the county will continue to participate in ICBO. He said the county's strategic plan, which has been approved by the Clark County Commission, directs each department to create partnerships with private industries and take part in educational and training programs to maximize service.

"We encourage them to be involved and support that wholeheartedly," Weber said. "I clarified that they are not to solicit, and they shall avoid the perception of soliciting."

Weber said he and his department have learned from the experience.

"We've refined some things," he said.

archive