City Related | City Ethics

Conflicts of Interest September 12, 2009

Conflicts of Interest Go Beyond Financial Benefits to Officials

Many local government ethics codes define a conflict of interest as existing only when an official stands to receive a financial benefit from his or her action or inaction. But real and perceived conflicts exist even when there is no financial benefit to an official. Important examples include benefits to relatives and business associates, where the official only benefits indirectly, while others benefit directly.

Local Government Practice September 11, 2009

An Attempt to Extend Legislative Immunity to Exclude Testimony and the Vagueness of "Regulated by the City"

A new argument has been made in the legislative immunity part of the case against a Baltimore council member who is now the mayor. In a memorandum to dismiss a new indictment (attached; see below), filed on September 8, the mayor has argued, on pages 3-10, that testimony by someone who attended events which the mayor attended in her legislative capacity cannot be used against her.

Ethics Commissions & Administration September 8, 2009

The Independence of New Orleans' Ethics Program

The New Orleans Ethics Review Board, formed in 2006, certainly wins an A for independence. According to the city ethics code, six of its seven members are chosen by the mayor (with council approval) from nominees submitted by the heads of five local private universities (the seventh is the mayor's to select). Unfortunately, the result is that the majority of board members work at the universities.

September 5, 2009

An Ethics Challenge and a Unusual Approach to Pay-to-Play

Some news in Greensboro, NC led me to a blog post on old news in Greenburgh, NY, so here's the new news and the old news about two cities with nearly the same name.

September 1, 2009

Public Works Misconduct in Tulsa and Montreal

Two former public works employees are in the news this week for misconduct.

Local Government Practice August 31, 2009

Council Fiefdoms and Unethical Behavior

If you want to encourage unethical behavior, give individual officials independent power over the sorts of decisions where people have the greatest incentive to tempt officials, and officials are in the best position to enforce pay-to-play.

Conflicts of Interest August 31, 2009

An Interesting Three-Headed Potential Conflict

Here's an interesting potential conflict.

August 28, 2009

EC Member Conflicts, Anonymous Complaints, and the Relocation of an Airport

Here's a mind-twister of a situation, from St. Marys City (GA; pop 17,000). According to an article on jacksonville.com, four members of the city council wrote the state attorney general asking for a ruling on whether a fifth council member violated state law by refusing to disqualify himself from voting on the proposed relocation of the St. Marys Airport (he owns a business there).

Conflicts of Interest August 27, 2009

Gifts: Prohibition, Disclosure, or Both?

One of the most contentious topics in local government ethics is prohibition vs. disclosure of gifts to officials. As with so many government ethics issues, the best answer is both, but reaching the best answer requires a thinking outside the box, along with a sincere interest in ending pay-to-play, in this case, the use of gifts as a way to reward officials for past or future conduct.

Transparency & Disclosure August 25, 2009

The Positive Effects of Applicant Disclosure, and How to Enforce It

Applicant disclosure is an effective part of local government ethics that is usually ignored. Usually it is officials who are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest, either in the form of annual disclosure statements, revised when circumstances change, or in the form of announcements that they have a potential conflict and are withdrawing from involvement in a matter.

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