It was a different kind of town business at the Tyrone Council retreat Feb. 23. Council member Eric Dial recommended at the town consider adopting an ethics resolution and an accompanying ordinance. After some discussion, the council agreed to look at Dial’s proposal.

“We’re trustees of the town,” Dial said. “I don’t think the charter defines ethics as much as is needed.”

Dial said the ordinance might include definitions, prohibitions, due process and penalties. He provided material that outlined a procedure for becoming a “Certified City of Ethics.” Dial explained that the Georgia Certified City of Ethics program is designed to give formal recognition to those municipalities that agree to conduct their affairs in accordance with ethics principles.

Commenting on a possible ordinance, town attorney Dennis Davenport said the big question is how the town would handle an ethics complaint.

“Your ethics ordinance will be as broad as you want it to be,” Davenport said.

The Certified City of Ethics program is an attempt to raise awareness about ethics issues at the local level and provide a local forum for the airing and resolution of legitimate concerns, according to Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). The use of a local ethics ordinance allows citizens to raise their concerns and participate in the ethics investigation process at the local level, where the voice and influence of the individual citizen is strongest.

The “Certified City of Ethics” program was developed by GMA. If approved after review, the designation is granted by the GMA board. More than 200 Georgia municipalities have adopted the ethics program since its inception in 1999.