Ethics Tenet 4

Ethics Tenet 4

Serve the best interests of all community members.

Guidelines

Effects of Decisions. Members should inform the appropriate elected or appointed official(s) of a decision’s anticipated effects on community members.

Promote Equity. Members should ensure fairness and impartiality in accessing programs and services and in the enforcement of laws and regulations. Members should assess and propose solutions to strive to eliminate disparities.

Case Study

A person was appointed as City Manager and arrived to serve in the City.  After arriving the Manager discovered that the City provided medical insurance for employees’ families but did not provide it for his family, because of his salary.  This was not discussed or included in the offer of the position in follow up discussions. There was not anything in writing that either confirmed or denied this benefit. The Council elected not to provide it although requested.  After being on the job for six months an election was held and two members of a five-member Board were elected that campaigned on a need for change in the administration. With the first budget proposal and the granting of a 5% increase to the employees, the Council elected to withhold it from the City Manager.