A proposal by the Independent Ethics Board to strengthen a voter-approved ethics code long seen as ineffectual landed with a loud thud Wednesday night at City Hall, with Mayor John Dailey, in a rare display of near open hostility, blasting both the recommended ordinance and the board itself.

Dailey, in full prosecutor mode, grilled the city’s Independent Ethics Officer, Julie Meadows-Keefe, and the Ethics Board chairman, Richard Herring, over their practices and procedures since the board’s creation nearly five years ago. Treating them at times almost like hostile witnesses, he asked leading questions, answered his own questions and apologized several times after cutting the speaker off.

Over the span of 40 minutes, Dailey tore away at some of the most significant revisions to the city’s ethics code, a document a year in the making that’s sat on the shelf since the Ethics Board delivered it to commissioners in April.

The back story:

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Lobbing questions at Meadows-Keefe and Herring, he expressed major doubts about expanding the code to more city employees, lowering the burden of proof in ethics complaints and giving the Ethics Board subpoena power. He complained numerous times about the board’s handling of anonymous complaints. He suggested putting an inspector general in place rather than granting the Ethics Board more authority.

“We are going to work with you,” he said at the end of his remarks, “and I believe we are going to pass a very fair and firm ethics package as promised by the end of the year. This is the most I’ve ever spoken on one issue. I appreciate your patience with me. But this is also one of the most important issues that we’ll deal with all year.”

Dailey’s opposition to many of the proposals put in doubt ultimate passage of the Ethics Board’s recommended ordinance as written, which needs the support of three of five commissioners to pass. Commissioner Curtis Richardson also questioned the proposals, saying the city has no need to impose “strict” and “arcane” rules on itself.

Commissioner Jeremy Matlow gave the only unequivocal thumbs up to the Ethics Board's proposals, saying none of them gave him pause. Matlow said stricter rules are needed given guilty pleas in July of former City Commissioner Scott Maddox and ex-Downtown Improvement Authority chief Paige Carter-Smith on federal public corruption charges.

“I can’t think of any time where it's more important than what we’ve experienced this year,” Matlow said. “And when you read the statement of facts signed by former Commissioner Scott Maddox just how important it is to make sure that we hold ourselves accountable.”

Commissioners took no vote on the board’s proposed overhaul of the ethics code, which in its current form applies to fewer than two dozen individuals at City Hall. They’ll continue deliberations in a workshop set for Oct. 28; it’s unclear when they’ll vote on a final product.

Their discussion comes amid the backdrop of the FBI’s long-running investigation into City Hall — which is ongoing — and findings by the Florida Commission on Ethics of violations by former City Manager Rick Fernandez and former Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum.

It also follows long-simmering controversy involving Meadows-Keefe, who announced in July she plans to retire early next year after revelations she had a personal relationship with an appointed city official, who has not been publicly named. Dailey, during statements Wednesday, said he has concerns about the ethics officer “and how that role has played out.” He also suggested the Ethics Board be audited.

"After five years, I think it's a great idea we perform the audit,” Dailey said.

Dailey’s comments drew criticism from members of Citizens for Ethics Reform, which backed the voter referendum in 2014 that created the Ethics Board and code. Peter Butzin, a member of the group, said it would be “very sad” if the city doesn’t pass meaningful ethics measures.

“Mr. Mayor, I don't know where to begin here,” Butzin said. “You say you’re confident that the commission will pass a fair and firm ethics ordinance. But respectfully, based on your line of questions and the issues you’ve raised, it just doesn’t sound that way to me.”

Ben Wilcox, another member of the citizens group, noted that most of the commissioners agreed as candidates to raise the ethical bar in Tallahassee.

"This community is desperate for city government to send a signal that you get it," he said. "Ethics matter. We don't tolerate corruption. You want to bring new businesses and jobs to Tallahassee? Send a signal that we are not pay-to-play."

Dailey repeatedly asserted the Ethics Board has processed only one sworn complaint since its inception and that most of its work dealt with anonymous complaints that came in through the hotline or email. Meadows-Keefe disputed his characterization.

“Mr. Mayor, very respectfully, I’d like to say that this board hasn’t just had one complaint in five years,” she said. “I can rattle them off to you by memory because they’re burned there, if you would like. But there has been more than one.”

The Ethics Board in July got a non-sworn complaint through its hotline over an appearance by Dailey in a commercial for the Kraft Brothers’ new Infiniti dealership on Mahan Drive. The mayor said footage of him was used without his permission, and the ad was taken down at his behest. Meadows-Keefe recommended closing the matter, which the board voted to do in August.

Back story:Kraft Infiniti TV commercial starring John Dailey pulled from the air at mayor's request

Dailey closed the discussion by vowing to meet with members of Citizens for Ethics Reform in the days ahead.

"Bring the coalition together and we'll spend a couple hours on it," he said. "I would enjoy it."

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.