Ethics Tenet 10:
Resist any encroachment on professional responsibilities, believing the member should be free to carry out official policies without interference, and handle each problem without discrimination on the basis of principle and justice.
Guideline
Information Sharing. The members should openly share information with the governing body while diligently carrying out the member’s responsibilities as set forth in the charter or enabling legislation.
Case Study
In response to public criticism regarding the heights of buildings being approved for development within the city, the City Council directed the City Manager to plan an interactive planning session, led by a professional facilitator, to gather public input on this issue. After staff designed the workshop and reported back to the Council on the details, several Council members criticized staff’s recommendations regarding a number of details about the workshop, including the choice of facilitator, the inclusion of property owners and developers in addition to residents, and the format of the workshop. Individual Council members approached the City Manager to impose their desires upon him for the session including setting the parameters, hiring the facilitator, establishing the input gathering process, and inviting the attendees.
