A panel of Clayton County residents could soon begin to police county officials to prevent ethical violations such as those that have put the school district's accreditation at risk.

The Clayton board of commissioners moved closer Tuesday to appointing a panel of nine residents to enforce a proposed code of ethics for elected officials. The commission will vote on an ethics policy, currently being finalized by attorneys, in the next 30-60 days, board Chairman Eldrin Bell said at Tuesday's commission meeting.

"We need to restore confidence in county government and leadership. A code of ethics is a good start," Commissioner Michael Edmondson said.

If the code passes, the commission would assemble an independent ethics advisory committee that will ensure all elected and appointed officials, along with county employees, are following the strict ethics policy. The sheriff, clerk of courts and tax commissioner will be exempt from the policy because they are constitutional offices governed by state law.

"This will prevent the problems that are plaguing the school board right now," said Larry O'Keeffe, a Morrow resident who helped draft the policy.

A group of residents spent the past year reviewing ethics legislation from other cities and drafting a policy for the commission.

The commission began to move quickly to adopt the policy after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools recommended the Clayton school district's accreditation be revoked because of a string of unethical behavior by school board members.