WASHINGTON STATE
EXECUTIVE ETHICS BOARD
July 12, 2024
Regular Meeting Minutes
A. Preliminary Business
1. Roll Call
The regular meeting of the Washington State Executive Ethics Board
(Board) was called to order by Chair Jutte at 9:00 a.m. In attendance were Vice Chair Kelli Hooke and
Members Megan Abel, Cam Comfort and David Hankins. Board staff in attendance
included: Executive Director Kate
Reynolds, Senior Counsel Matt Kernutt, Assistant Attorney General Julia Eisentrout,
Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant, and Senior Investigator Justin Cotte.
The Board welcomed new member David
Hankins.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion 24-030 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board approved the July
12, 2024, agenda as presented.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of the May 12, 2024, Meeting Minutes
Motion 24-031 Moved by Vice Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board approved the May 12, 2024, minutes as presented.
Voting For: Chair Jutte, Vice Chair Hooke and Members
Abel and Comfort.
Not Voting: Member Hankins.
The motion passed.
B. Enforcement Matters
Stipulations
EEB
Case 2023-009 (Brusseau)
Assistant Attorney General Julia
Eisentrout briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter
of Robert Brusseau, a Transportation Engineer 4 with the Department of
Transportation. Robert Brusseau agreed that they may have violated the Ethics
in Public Service Act by using state resources for private benefit or
gain. Evidence indicated that Robert
Brusseau browsed the internet, visiting sites including TikTok, Twitter,
personal Google searches, news websites, and online shopping. The order imposes
a civil penalty of $2,500 with $1,000 suspended.
EEB
Case 2023-017 (Malone)
Senior Investigator Justin Cotte briefed
the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Chris Malone, a
Corrections Officer 2 with the Department of Corrections. Chris Larson agreed
that they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using state
resources for private benefit or gain. Evidence indicated Chris Malone visited
sports and news websites, Ebay and social media
websites. The order imposes a civil penalty of $2,500 with $1,000 suspended.
EEB
Case 2023-037 (Buikema)
Senior Investigator Justin Cotte also briefed
the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Greg Buikema, a former
employee with the Department of Corrections. Greg Buikema agreed that they may
have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using state resources for
private benefit or gain. Evidence indicated that Greg Buikema used their state
email address to send and receive personal email. The order imposes a civil
penalty of $750.
EEB
Case 2023-050 (Humes)
Senior Investigator Justin Cotte briefed
the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Ross Humes, a Management
Analyst 4 with the Department of Licensing. Ross Humes agreed that they may
have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using state resources for non-work-related
activities. Evidence indicated Ross Humes used their state email account to
conduct business related to a homeowner’s association that they were a board
member of. The order imposes a civil penalty of $2,500 with $1,000 suspended.
The Board deferred action on the enforcement matters until after
their closed session.
C. Request for Advisory Opinion Discussion
Executive Director Kate Reynolds reported on a
request for an advisory opinion from a former Department of Ecology
employee. Kate Reynolds noted that they
had requested more in-depth information regarding the work the employee was
doing both in their state and current employment but received no additional
information. Staff recommended denying the request.
Motion 24-032 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board denied
the request for an advisory opinion due to lack of sufficient information and
circumstances to enable the Board to evaluate the request.
The motion passed
unanimously.
D. Staff Reports
Kate
Reynolds welcomed new Board member David Hankins.
E. Public Comment/Board Member Comment
No
public or Board Member comments were given.
F. Closed Session
At 9:22
am the Board moved into Closed Session.
At 10:40 am the Board returned to regular session and reported the
following:
Motion 24-033 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board approved the Stipulated
Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-009 Robert Brusseau,
imposing a civil penalty of $2,500 with $1,000 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-034 Moved by Vice Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-017
Chris Malone, imposing a civil penalty of $2,500 with $1,000 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-035 Moved by Member Abel,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-037 Greg
Buikema, imposing a civil penalty of $750.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-036 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-050 Ross
Humes, imposing a civil penalty of $2,500 with $1,000 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-037 Moved by Vice Chair Hooke,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2023-020 Chase Loiacono.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-038 Moved by Vice Chair Hooke,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2023-049 Enrico Carver.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-039 Moved by Chair Jutte,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2023-052 Amanda Campbell.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-040 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Abel:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2023-053 Jayne Barton.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-041 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2023-058 Troy McCormick.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-042 Moved by Member Abel,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2023-060 Christopher Wilson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-043 Moved by Vice Chair Hooke,
seconded by Chair Jutte:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-063 Paige Perkinson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-044 Moved by Chair Jutte,
seconded by Member Abel:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-065 Connor England.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 24-045 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Abel:
The Board declined to
reconsider the Final Order in EEB Case 2023-022 Fred
Metzger.
Voting For: Chair Jutte,
Vice Chair Hooke and Members Abel and Comfort.
Not Voting: Member Hankins.
The motion passed.
Motion 23-046 Moved by Chair Jutte,
seconded by Vice Chair Hooke:
The Board declined to
reconsider the Final Order in EEB Case 2023-043 Kimberly
Black.
Voting For: Chair Jutte,
Vice Chair Hooke and Member Abel.
Not Voting: Members Comfort
and Hankins.
The motion passed.
G. Miscellaneous Matters/Adjournment
There
were no miscellaneous matters and the meeting was
adjourned at 10:47 a.m.
Approved by the Board 9/13/2024