The Bastrop Ethics Commission cleared Council Member Gary Schiff on Tuesday night of a complaint filed against him in 2016. The commission, however, decided to delay action on and further investigate another grievance filed against Schiff last year as well as a complaint against Council Member Deborah Jones.

"The commission, while difficult, did not find by clear and convincing evidence that a violation occurred pursuant to the complaint 2016-1," Ethics Commission Chair Chris Duggan said Tuesday night.

The commission did not release the ethics complaint it dismissed nor any details of the allegation that was made. Schiff and Jones confirmed to the Bastrop Advertiser on Wednesday that the dismissed complaint was one filed against Schiff.

"I’m glad it’s over and I’m confident the other issues will be resolved as well," Schiff said.

Jones said Wednesday she has retained an attorney to represent her in the ethics investigation, though she said she’s stunned a complaint was filed against her.

In October, Council Member Kay McAnally resigned her seat, saying she serves on a council that often skirts state and city rules. During her resignation speech, McAnally also said she filed ethics complaints against Jones and Schiff, though she didn’t provide details behind her grievances.

Jones told the Advertiser Wednesday that McAnally’s complaint against her centered on required training the Open Meetings Act. Jones said McAnally alleges she didn’t complete the required trainings within 90 days from taking office in May.

Jones completed her training on Aug. 8, according to the city secretary’s office.

"I’m stunned," Jones said. McAnally "could have just asked the city secretary for my certificate (of required trainings). She could have asked me."

McAnally said the required trainings was only one part of her complaint. She said she asked for confirmation from the city that Jones had completed the required trainings but none was available.

McAnally declined to comment on any other allegations made in her complaint as the ethics commission is still investigating the matter.

"I just want the city to have ethics. And I want it to operate on a base that is ethical and legal," McAnally said. "It used to be that way and it no longer is. I have asked nicely and not so nicely and I’ve begged and it hasn’t changed."

McAnally said she approached Jones before filing a complaint to discuss her ethical concerns. She said Jones made no changes, and therefore McAnally filed a complaint with the ethics commission.

"It doesn’t make me happy to have to do this," she said. "This is hard for me. This is horrible for me. But as a representative of the people I have to do what’s right and operate under ethical and legal standards."

Still, Jones said McAnally’s allegations are politically motivated.

"I don’t understand when this is supposed to end," Jones said. "At what point do these people understand that we’re trying to accomplish the same thing, which is to move the city forward.

"I’m really at the end of trying to understand what Kay McAnally’s agenda is with filing ethics violations. With being so aggressive. I don’t understand."

Duggan said Tuesday the commission is keeping the complaints confidential and that treating them with "the utmost sensitivity is necessary."

"The commission feels that we should be respective of the complaints, the accused and the complainants until we feel necessary it must be public," he said.

The commission decided to meet March 7 to further examine the remaining two complaints against Jones and Schiff.