Humboldt County supervisors on Aug. 18 adopted revised Code of Conduct and Ethics and Rules of the Board, changing how complaints against board members are handled and repealing Resolution No. 22-44.
The board’s meeting packet listed the item as a departmental report with a redline, clean copy and resolution attachments. According to the meeting summary, supervisors approved the revised rules after a public debate over whether complaints should be screened first by county staff or sent directly to outside counsel.
The meeting summary says the board voted 4-0, with Supervisor Steve Madrone absent. A separate summary of the meeting says the discussion centered on removing county staff from the initial complaint-screening role and routing complaints to outside counsel, with questions raised about cost control, frivolous complaints and whether a local review step should remain.
The revised policy changes how misconduct complaints may be routed and reviewed. The materials provided do not spell out any final amendments made during the meeting beyond the adopted revision and repeal of Resolution No. 22-44.
The board’s minutes and agenda are available through Humboldt County’s Legistar system, and the meeting audio is archived by the county’s public-records vendor. Minutes | Agenda packet | Meeting audio
