WELCOME
<p>
<img src="http://www.cityethics.org/sites/cityethics.org/files/CDM-160.gif" alt="" align="right"><br />
<p>This website is an international project designed to exchange best practices in government ethics programs. Please participate and send us your ideas for expansion of the site. <br>
Thank you!</p>
<h3>Carla Miller</h3>
Divulging Confidential Information Is Not a Conflict If It Only Benefits Someone Politically
In a recent <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/new-michigan-model-local-government-e…; target="”_blank”">blog
post</a> on the new Michigan Model Local Government Ethics Ordinance, I
noted in passing that the model wrongfully made divulging confidential
information a violation even when it benefits no one, and that this is not a government ethics issue.<br>
<br>
WELCOME
<p>
<img src="files/CDM-160.gif" alt="" align="right"><br />
<p>This website is an international project designed to exchange best practices in government ethics programs. Please participate and send us your ideas for expansion of the site. <br>
Thank you!</p>
<h3>Carla Miller</h3>
Quote of the Day
<br>
<b>"I don't think we need to have an ethics officer. ... I feel we already
have three ethics officers."</b><br>
<br>
—<a href="http://www.fbfl.us/" target="”_blank”">Fernandina Beach</a>
Dallas Ethics Reforms Pass, But There Are Enforcement Problems
<br>
The Dallas ethics reforms described in a<a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/dallas-ethics-reform-proposals-go-vot…; target="”_blank”"> recent blog post</a> were passed
Plain Language in NSW, Oz
New South Wales, Australia Premier Nathan Rees announces plain language reforms
In an interview recently he said: "I want plain English to become an essential part of how the public sector does its business, every bit as essential as a financial impact statement."
Mandatory Local Government Ethics Training in Massachusetts Is Not Being Warmly Greeted
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<b>Update:</b> November 13, 2009 (see below)<br>
<br>
Massachusetts has been very busy reforming its ethics laws. Most of the
reforms involve the increase of penalties, plugging loopholes, banning
gifts, and increasing the authority of the state ethics commission,
which has jurisdiction over local government officials and employees.
How a Board Should Handle a Member's Contract Conflict
An interesting disagreement has arisen over what is required for a contract with a council member to constitute a conflict of
interest in California. According to <a href="http://www.thevalleychronicle.com/articles/2009/11/06/news/doc4af482c18…
article in the Valley <i>Chronicle</i></a>, the city of Hemet and the League
of California Cities disagree with a grand jury about whether a particular council
The Problem with Gifts to City via Elected Officials
In <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/node/606">past blog posts</a>, I
have focused on the perjury charges against Baltimore mayor Sheila
Dixon that relate to her failure to disclose gifts from a developer who
was seeking tax breaks. But today, Dixon goes on trial for theft
involving gift cards allegedly given to the office of the city council
president, which she filled at the time, and used by her for personal
purchases.<br>
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A New Musical About a Good Government Advocate
It's rare that the number of a <a href="http://www.nigeria-law.org/Criminal%20Code%20Act-Part%20VI%20%20to%20th…; target="_blank">fraud
provision</a> (419) is used as the chorus of a musical number, but this
is what happens in a song about government corruption in the new