KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Municipal Ethics Commission met Friday morning at City Hall in Kansas City.
The commission discussed its ethics probe into Mayor Mark Funkhouser.
They would like more time. That is their decision after a morning meeting about two issues both involving Mayor Mark Funkhouser.
The first issue gave the commission the chance to accept a ruling by the Missouri Ethics Commission. They ruled the allegations false that Mayor Funkhouser forced a staffer to use inappropriate work time for the light rail campaign issue.
The other issue the commission addressed was deciding whether or not to further investigate if the mayor’s office violated the sunshine law. The allegation stated a former staffer violated the law by delaying to hand over city documents to the media.
Though the commission had documentation of an investigation into the matter, four of the six commission members voted to request witness testimony on the issue before making a decision.
"I think two people can read the same testimony and come away with different opinions," said Dr. Will McCarther, a commission member. McCarther said he preferred to hear from the people involved directly to evaluate the allegation.
The commission will ask Mayor Funkhouser along with that staffer, the man who performed the audit, and the reporter involved to testify at a future Municipal Ethics Commission meeting.
Two commission members say they feel like they're "plowing the same field twice".
"I feel the question has been answered," said commission member Dan Porrevecchio. "I think it is a waste of our time to investigate it further."
He was among those out-voted 4-2 on both issues and instead the commission will pursue more information.
Concerning the alleged Sunshine Law violation, the commission will ask Mayor Funkhouser along with the staffer involved, the man who performed the ethics audit, and the reporter involved to testify at a future Municipal Ethics Commission meeting.
