2014_1112_Ethics Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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And three, disclosure (including updates) means that officials regularly participate in the ethics program, which helps create a good, active ethics environment in the local government. There are two sides to every disclosure: (1) the official and (2) individuals and entities seekinb special benefits from the local government. And there are three t��pes of disclosure: (1) annual disclosure of financial and personal relationships and ownership interests, with updates; (2) "transactional disclosure" of conflicts when a matter comes before an official with a possible conflict; and (3) "applicant disclosure," that is, disclosure of relationships to officials, direct or indirect, by an individual or entity seeking a contract, permit, or grant from the local government. It is important to understand that, although disclosure is valuable, it is not alone sufficient. If one discloses a possible conflict situation and does not handle it responsibly, this tells the public that it is acceptable to use one's office to benefit oneself, one's family members, and one's business associates. Disclosure provides information; it is not a replaceinent for withdrawal from participation, refusing a gift, or other ways of responsibly handling conflict situations. 4. Independent Administration Since government ethics is all about conflicts, it is extremely important that there not be any conflicts in the ethics program itself. In practice, this means that no official under the jurisdiction of an ethics program should have any special role in the program. LInfortunately, high-le�•el officials often select the members of an ethics commission and, sometimes, its ethics officer or executive director; malze enforcement decisions; approve the ethics program's budget; and, in the case of city or county attorneys, provide ethics advice and ethics commission representation. Sometimes, in fact, these officials administer the ethics program themsel�-es. Whenever officials' appointees in an ethics program appear to act too indulgently toward officials (or do not act at all, or appear to act to hurt a mayor or council majority's opponents), this undermines the public's trust in the government. In addition, the selection of ethics commission members by high-le�-e1 officials malces it look to the public like they control the program. This undermines trust in the program and means that citizens don't bother filing complaints. This is why the independence of an ethics program from 2t