By Lynn Tipton, FCCMA Executive Director
There have been a few headlines lately related to actions taken by local government managers across the state that might seem to land in an ethically gray area. Despite the specific narrative within each of the ICMA Code of Ethics tenets (which is also the FCCMA Code of Ethics), there are daily choices that can seem to be open to interpretation. Rather than taking an educated guess, however, I would encourage all members to use ICMA’s ethics staff as a sounding board, and if that is not as timely an option, to call one of our Senior Advisors. If you aren’t yet familiar with the full Code and its guidelines, click here.
First adopted shortly after ICMA was formed, the profession within ICMA’s membership takes great pains to update the Code regularly and to redefine elements within the Guidelines based upon member involvement and feedback. There is an on-going recognition campaign called “What’s On Your Wall?” to challenge members to be sure to post these where employees, officials and the general public can regularly see the Code. My earliest memories of my dad’s office when he was a city manager in California include his framed copy of the Code – and it hung on the wall of every office he ever had (including federal positions). It is important to note that this Code and its enforcement rely upon a committed membership: reporting questionable actions and believed violations, and attending regular training to stay up-to-date on the ever-changing nature of the profession. Without that commitment, enforcement is weakened. In addition, there are opportunities to serve on the FCCMA Ethics Committee through appointment by the FCCMA president, and on the ICMA Committee on the Profession. I encourage you to attend ethics training in your area, through webinars and on-line. I have always believed that this profession stands apart from others because of the Code. If you have any doubts about an action you are considering, please check in advance: both Martha Perego and Jared Dailey at ICMA in Washington, D.C. will accept phone calls and emails regarding the Code and its application. Similarly, Florida is blessed to have active Senior Advisors across the state who are available for advice (NOTE: their advice isn’t an ethics opinion, but it may help you to clarify the issue with one of the Advisors). There is expertise and experience close at hand – please seek it! Isn’t it better to have talked it over for guidance than to face an ethics report and investigation? And, consider joining the “What’s On Your Wall” campaign by putting your framed copy of the Code in a very visible place. While it is often true that actions speak more loudly than words, in the case of ethics, we need both!
