DeKalb ethics investigations progressing

The DeKalb County Ethics Board on Tuesday will review the progress of investigations into suspended CEO Burrell Ellis, Commissioner Elaine Boyer, suspended Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton and former county secretary Nina Hall.

The Ethics Board, which has the power to remove elected officials from office and fire county employees, could decide whether to move forward with hearings in each of their cases.

The ethics complaint against Ellis asks that he be removed from office based on criminal charges that accuse him of shaking down county contractors for campaign contributions. The Ethics Board will have to consider whether to proceed with its investigation of Ellis or wait until after his September trial concludes.

A complaint against Boyer, which cites an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation, alleges she used her county purchasing card for personal purchases.

Walton, a key witness in the case against Ellis, allegedly accepted gifts from county vendors and funnelled cash to Hall, who served on several selection committees for county projects, according to the ethics complaints against them.

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