An Ethics Emergency in Corpus Christi?
<b>Update below</b><br>
An ethics emergency was declared in Corpus Christi on Tuesday,
according to <a href="http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/44895897.html" target="”_blank”">an
article</a> on the KIII TV website. During the final meeting of the
council before the council membership changes post-election, the
lame-duck council declared an ethics emergency in order to <a href="http://www.cctexas.com/files/g40/20090512%20Supplemental%20Agenda4.pdf&…; target="”_blank”">amend
the ethics code</a> (click and go to pages 47ff) in order to prevent
council members, senior officials (the city manager and staff, and
department heads) and immediate family from entering into contracts
with the city.<br>
<br>
When the ethics commission chair complained that the commission had not
been consulted, one council member chided the commission for not having
made any recommendations. The EC chair wondered aloud if there was some
sort of secret agenda behind pushing this amendment through so quickly,
a hint that future council members' families may have or seek
contracts with the city (Sect. 2-311(15) of <a href="http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=13945&sid=43" target="”_blank”">the
ethics code</a> (in document with amendment, with link above (follows
the amendment) or click and go to Chapter 2, Article 5 of the Code of
Ordinances) already makes it a violation for council members themselves
to have contracts with the city; and employees are similarly excluded.).<br>
<br>
It's always bad to rush into any ordinance, unless there is a clear
emergency (I don't think the end of a term qualifies as an emergency).
This is especially true with ethics codes, which should, as much or
more than any other ordinance, be open to public hearing, and input
especially from the ethics commission, and from affected officials and
employees. One thing that could use some fixing, for example, is the
definition of "direct family member," which does not include parents or
stepfamily.<br>
<br>
What occurred in Corpus Christi gives the impression that the ethics code is being used to make it appear that the new council is unethical. I don't think this is a legitimate goal of ethics reform.<br>
<br>
<i>Update</i> (5/26/09): According to <a href="http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/46116447.html" target="”_blank”">an article on the kiiitv.com website</a>, the new city council immediately suspended the amendments to the ethics ordinance, pending review by the ethics commission and a closer look by the council, as well.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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