Question: As a City Manager, what action would you take?

1. Carry out the directive of the City Council by explaining the merits of these changes. As City Manager, you explain that you did not influence the Charter
Committee or Council in their decision.

Answer #2 is recommended. While Tenet 7 allows members to assist the governing body in presenting issues involving a referendum, it states “Refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators.”  The manager should feel uncomfortable in representing any issue that could appear to disenfranchise a diverse group of the community or appear to be self-serving.

2. Meet with the City Council individually to explain your concerns with two of the proposed Charter amendments and ask that either they find an elected official to direct the campaign or appropriate monies sufficient to retain the service of a consultant, if not both.

Correct! While Tenet 7 allows members to assist the governing body in presenting issues involving a referendum, it states “Refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators.”  The manager should feel uncomfortable in representing any issue that could appear to disenfranchise a diverse group of the community or appear to be self-serving.

3. Explain to the City Council that you are ethically required to serve all minority members of the community and also explain that you do not feel comfortable representing a charter change that could appear as a direct benefit to your job security and thus undermine your credibility to the citizens. Toward that end, you cannot follow their directive.

Answer #2 is recommended. While Tenet 7 allows members to assist the governing body in presenting issues involving a referendum, it states “Refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators.”  The manager should feel uncomfortable in representing any issue that could appear to disenfranchise a diverse group of the community or appear to be self-serving.