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Sitting on a Board with Restricted Sources
Friday, April 25th, 2014
Robert Wechsler
According to an
article this week in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
the new mayor of Poplar Bluff, MO is a gadfly who had been totally
ignored when she questioned the dealings of her town government.
This is generally a sign of a very poor ethics environment.
One of the problems she wants to deal with is the town manager's paid position on the board of a local bank. The manager's fellow bank board members consist of a "group of business leaders who also have their hands in much of the city business," in other words, restricted sources. Not only do these business people do business with the town government, but the bank does, as well (in a small town, most or even all banks do business with the government).
The new mayor wants to draft an ordinance that would prevent town officials from sitting on such boards. It will be difficult to write, at least with respect to the boards of companies that do not do business with the town. But this should not stop the mayor from doing what she can to prevent this sort of thing from happening.
The council, as the town manager's boss, certainly has the right to insist that the council approve any position the manager (or other high-level officials) would like to take. It would be good, however, if there were guidelines on this, for example, a statement that it is harmful to the town government when an official sits on a board with individuals who seek special benefits from the town.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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One of the problems she wants to deal with is the town manager's paid position on the board of a local bank. The manager's fellow bank board members consist of a "group of business leaders who also have their hands in much of the city business," in other words, restricted sources. Not only do these business people do business with the town government, but the bank does, as well (in a small town, most or even all banks do business with the government).
The new mayor wants to draft an ordinance that would prevent town officials from sitting on such boards. It will be difficult to write, at least with respect to the boards of companies that do not do business with the town. But this should not stop the mayor from doing what she can to prevent this sort of thing from happening.
The council, as the town manager's boss, certainly has the right to insist that the council approve any position the manager (or other high-level officials) would like to take. It would be good, however, if there were guidelines on this, for example, a statement that it is harmful to the town government when an official sits on a board with individuals who seek special benefits from the town.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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