Honolulu City Council members want to audit the city Ethics Commission in the wake of recent controversies that led to the resignation of the commission’s longtime chief, Chuck Totto, two months ago.

The Council Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to advance Resolution 16-164, which asks city Auditor Edwin Young to conduct a management and performance audit of the seven-member commission and its office. The resolution will likely be heard by the full Council at its Sept. 7 meeting.

Young told committee members he backs the call for an audit but the work should be conducted by an outside party because his office has had a close working relationship “professionally as well as in training” with the state Office of the Auditor. New city Ethics Commission Executive Director Jan Yamane, who was appointed earlier this month, served as acting state auditor from 2012 until this past May when Les Kondo was appointed to the post by the Legislature.

“In order to avoid any conflicts of interest or perceptions of lack of independence or objectivity, my recommendation would be that our office outsource the audit,” Young said, adding that his agency could serve as a contract administrator.

“Even if we did find problems and we did report it, the question would be whether this was a biased report,” Young said. Having an outside auditor would allow the results “to have more credibility and be better accepted by the public than if we did the audit.”

It would cost between $25,000 and $100,000 to hire an outside auditor, Young said. His office budget could weather a $25,000 expense but would need additional funding from the Council if the contract required more, he said. It would be the first time the office has outsourced an audit, he said.

Councilman Trevor Ozawa, who introduced the resolution, told his colleagues Tuesday that he was troubled by news stories about the strained relations between Totto, his staff, the commission and Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration.

He wants “to understand better what rules and … procedures are in place now” and be able to assure the public that the agency is able “to look at issues … on a fair and impartial basis,” he said.

Totto has publicly criticized the administration for meddling in the commission’s affairs, including allowing city attorneys from the corporation counsel’s office to issue advice on ethical issues. Caldwell and Corporation Counsel Donna Leong have denied any meddling.

Yamane said she, the commission staff and the commission members “welcome a very thoughtful and forward-looking audit … improvements are always needed and it would be an excellent way … for us to begin our new chapter of the Ethics Commission.”

Ethics Commission Chairwoman Victoria Marks submitted written testimony supporting the resolution.

Totto, in an email response to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said an audit would help the agency “regain its direction, purpose and the public’s trust,” and that he looks forward to assisting auditors in its examination and report.