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Model Code

Enforcement & Complaints November 27, 2006

Complaints and Investigations

This is the place to raise and discuss issues involving the filing of a complaint regarding an alleged violation of the Code, and the ensuing investigation. Possible issues for discussion include who may file a complaint; whether complaints must be sworn; whether an Ethics Commission may file its o…
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Enforcement & Complaints November 27, 2006

Hearing Process

This is the place to comment on and discuss the hearing process for proceedings before the Ethics Commission. The assumption here is that such proceedings are public after a finding of probable cause. The discussion of whether or not they should be public is elsewhere. 214. Public Hearing Process. …
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Conflicts of Interest November 27, 2006

Penalties Relating to Contracts

This is the place to discuss penalties involving contracts. There are two in the Model Code: automatic voiding of contracts upon a finding of a violation of the Code, and debarment of persons and entities from entering into other contracts with the municipality after violating the Code. Do you thin…
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Enforcement & Complaints November 27, 2006

Judicial Review of Ethics Commission Decisions

This is the place to share your opinions of and experiences with judicial review of Ethics Commission decisions. For example, who should be able to seek judicial review: complainants, respondents, other interested parties, anyone? Are there situations where judicial review is inappropriate, too exp…
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Ethics Commissions & Administration November 27, 2006

Open vs. Confidential Ethics Commission Proceedings

The Model Code makes Ethics Commission investigations confidential. However, upon a finding of probable cause, Ethics Commission proceedings become public. In addition, disclosure statements, advisory opinions, waiver requests, and documents filed in Ethics Commission proceedings are public. Please…
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Enforcement & Complaints November 27, 2006

Penalties

This is the place to comment on the penalty provisions of the Model Code, to recommend alternative penalties, to share experiences with various penalties and the lack of certain penalties, and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various penalties. For example, please share your experienc…
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Ethics Codes & Reform November 27, 2006

Miscellaneous Provisions

This is the place to comment on the Model Code's miscellaneous provisions, and to suggest different language as well as additional provisions. 218. Miscellaneous Provisions. 1. No existing right or remedy may be lost, impaired, or affected by reason of this code. 2. Nothing in this code may be deem…
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Ethics Codes & Reform November 27, 2006

Declaration of Policy, Purpose, and Obligations

This is the place to comment on, discuss, and share alternative content and language relating to the declarations of policy that can usually be found at the beginnning of municipal ethics codes. Most declarations are very short and often ignored, since they cannot be enforced. But they are importan…
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Ethics Codes & Reform November 27, 2006

Introduction

Below is Robert Wechsler's introduction to the Model Municipal Ethics Code. This is the place to comment on issues raised and positions taken in this introdcution. Introduction Since most cities already have an ethics code, why is there a need for a model code? Because, as Mark Davies has so effect…
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Ethics Codes & Reform November 27, 2006

Municipal Ethics Codes: General Discussion of Their Importance, Types, and Their Role in a Municipal Ethics Program

City Ethics' Model Code Project assumes that an ethics code is central to municipal ethics programs. But this raises several issues. How important is an ethics code to an ethics program? Can an effective ethical environment be created without any sort of written ethics code? If an ethics code is ne…
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