Friday, February 28, 2003

Darnell proposes new ethics ordinance

Fulton County District 5 Commissioner Emma I. Darnell has proposed a resolution that would revamp the county's ethics code.

This resolution will be considered by the Board of Commissioners at its March 19, 2003 meeting.

The revised regulations more specifically define standards of ethical conduct, expand the number of officials and employees who must provide financial disclosures; and expands the scope of the ethics code to include county board appointees

The new code defines gifts and favors and more directly restricts county staff from influencing the contracting process.

Solicitation of gifts or favors from vendors or potential vendors is specifically prohibited.

While the Ethics Code has always applied to commissioners and county staff, this resolution would expand the code to include appointees to boards, commissions, or agencies, and both part-time and non-paid individuals, as well as non-employees retained to provide services for the county.

Among the county personnel who would now be required to file financial disclosures are: commissioners' non-clerical staff, deputy county Managers, all non-clerical staff reporting directly to the county manager, judges, and non-clerical staff in the purchasing, contract compliance, and equal employment opportunity departments.

The resolution would also change the composition of the Ethics Board. Members formerly selected by the Fulton County Employees Association and the County Personnel Board would be replaced with a member of the clergy selected by the Board of Commissioners and a practicing attorney selected by the chief judge of the Superior Court.

The board would also meet monthly instead of quarterly.

The county manager, deputy county managers, department directors, deputy/assistant department directors, and other employees who report directly to the Board of Commissioners would be prohibited from holding outside employment without the written consent of the Board of Ethics.

"The Board of Commissioners has studied the Fulton County Code of Ethics for one year. I believe the time has come when we must meet our responsibilities to Fulton County taxpayers and employees in this important area. We have made extensive use of the recently revised Atlanta Code of Ethics, developed by a citizens group at the direction of Mayor Shirley Franklin. This group included some of the most respected individuals in the field of Ethics Law in Metropolitan Atlanta," said Commissioner Darnell.

"The County Manager and County Attorney also reviewed Ethics Law from other similar governments. The basic principle of government ethics legislation seems to be uncomplicated. Government action must be based upon PUBLIC rather than personal interests. I believe that the proposed resolution is a good statement of this principle."