Report on Annual Reports I
Annual reports are, among other things, one of the most important, and
overlooked, enforcement mechanisms. At the <a href="http://www.cogel.org/" target="”_blank”">Council on Governmental Ethics Laws
(COGEL)</a> conference last week in Chicago, the executive director of
the <a href="http://www.phila.gov/ethicsboard/" target="”_blank”">Philadelphia Board of
Ethics</a>, Shane Creamer, presented the board's first campaign finance
<a href="http://www.phila.gov/ethicsboard/pdfs/CF_Compliance_Report_41707.pdf&qu…; target="”_blank”">compliance
report</a>, which details each campaign finance enforcement matter it
dealt with in its first election cycle. Not only does this show
everyone what an ethics board does, but it shows everyone who failed to
follow the rules, who was cooperative in rectifying problems and who
was not. Reports also provide lots of information to the city or county's officials and employees, as well as to other local
governments looking to set up or improve their ethics programs.<br>
<br>
Every city does it different.<br>
<br>
In fact, Philadelphia itself prepared a
different sort of <a href="http://www.phila.gov/ethicsboard/pdfs/Annual_Report_31908.FINAL.pdf" target="”_blank”">annual
report for 2007</a>, a 55-pager that details election, training,
advice, and enforcement activities, as well as including legislative
developments and recommendations, the board's first set of regulations, a summary of advisory opinions and advice of counsel, and a history
of the board and a look into the future. It's a great resource to
see how a city ethics board gets up and running.<br>
<br>
King County (WA) puts out an <a href="http://www.metrokc.gov/ethics/financialdisclosure.pdf" target="”_blank”">annual
financial disclosure report</a>, which not only provides statistics and
recommendations, but also a non-compliance roster, complete with names
and positions. Good idea.<br>
<br>
Atlanta's Ethics Officer puts up on her website an annual <a href="http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/boards/ethicspublications.aspx?sect…; target="”_blank”">Roll
of Delinquent Filers</a>, as well as lists of non-filers and even a
list of timely filers (44 pages long). Yes, people who follow the rules
should be recognized, too. It's not all about enforcement.<br>
<br>
Atlanta's
Ethics Officer also puts up a succinct <a href="http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/government/boards/board_of_et…; target="”_blank”">Highlights
by the Numbers</a>, with the stats, and biannual work plans and reports
on prior work plans. There's even a <a href="http://www.atlantaga.gov/client_resources/government/boards/board_of_et…; target="”_blank”">report
on the new hot line</a>, called the Integrity Line (anything to get
past the playground concept of tattling).<br>
<br>
Jacksonville's <a href="http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/exw776usrmjaieedhte25l7vlxw2csbtwx6636f…; target="”_blank”">most
recent annual report</a>, written by City Ethics' very own Carla
Miller, takes an interesting approach. It lists activities and
accomplishments under each paragraph of the ethics code's Mission and
Duties of the Ethics Officer provision.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.denvergov.org/Board_of_Ethics/AnnualReports/tabid/378837/Def…; target="”_blank”">Denver's
annual report</a> includes the usual statistics and summaries, but also
includes detailed summaries of its advisory opinions and decisions, 18
pages in all for the 2007 report. This is very helpful for Denver
officials and employees, as well as for other cities.<br>
<a href="http://www.denvergov.org/Board_of_Ethics/AnnualReports/tabid/378837/Def…; target="”_blank”"></a><br>
Massachusetts' state ethics commission has jurisdiction over state and
local officials and employees. Its <a href="http://www.mass.gov/ethics/07rept.pdf" target="”_blank”">annual report</a>
contains loads of statistics, with some breakdown among state, county,
and municipal officials. But what are especially valuable are its <a href="http://www.mass.gov/ethics/publications.html" target="”_blank”">annual summarie</a>s
of all advisory opinions, disposition (that is, settlement) agreements,
and decisions; the most recent report is 84 pages long. And if you want
to see the most recent summaries of opinions et al, you can go to the <a href="http://www.mass.gov/ethics/press_release.htm" target="”_blank”">press releases page</a>.
And you can even have the summaries sent to you via e-mail
as they come out; just click at the top of the press releases page and give them your e-mail address. Continuing
government ethics education doesn't come any cheaper or easier.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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