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PICKERINGTON CONSIDERS ETHICS ORDINANCE FOR OFFICIALS

From the Columbus Dispatch

Published: Monday, April 19, 2004
NEWS 03C
By Kirk D. Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Pickerington would be the first city in Ohio to require its elected and nonelected officials to publicly disclose their financial dealings under an ethics ordinance the City Council is considering.

Officials with the Ohio Ethics Commission could not recall any other municipality that has established a local ordinance on ethics.


Pickerington's would go beyond what is required by state ethics law, which requires elected officials to disclose their finances.

For the first time, the nonelected city manager, finance director and law director would be required to file financial statements that proponents say would show whether officials have ties to parties doing business with the city.

The proposal also would apply to the position of city engineer if Pickerington ever decides to hire one.

The ordinance is not intended to target any specific individual, although Council President Heidi Riggs said there seemed to be a perception that ethical problems were not being properly checked before the November election of Mayor David Shaver and new council members.

"Maybe it's a communication problem,'' said Riggs, who said in her campaign that some appointed officials who work full-time should be held more accountable.

"In upper leadership, they have a tremendous amount of autonomy. It's a part-time mayor and a part-time council. We want to show we're committed to having ethics.''

Riggs expects the ordinance to go before the full council on Tuesday for its first reading.

Such rules can head off problems, the state's ethics watchdog said.

"The purpose of disclosure is to remind those in public service of the conflicts they have and to protect the public,'' said David E. Freel, executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission.

His office has been watching Pickerington's debate, and Pickerington is using the commission's model ethics code to shape its own law.

The Pickerington ordinance would explain the ethical obligations of all city employees, prohibiting them from using their public position to obtain benefits for themselves or anyone else.

That prohibition would cover money, gifts, golf outings, tickets for social events and anything else of value.

"It doesn't matter if you're the ditch-digger,'' said Pickerington law director Bob Mapes. "If you're taking $100 to dig one ditch first before the others, that would be a violation.''

Penalties for violating the ordinance would range from discipline to dismissal.

"If you want people to play by the rules, it's good to spell out what the rules are,'' said Councilman Mike Sabatino, who supports the proposal. "I don't think we have anyone who wants to be unethical.''

Riggs also wants a representative of the Ohio Ethics Commission to start visiting Pickerington to train staff.

"They might be trying to do something without being aware they are violating the law,'' she said.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman makes it mandatory for his cabinet members to attend such a meeting each year with the commission.

"They're very good at clarifying,'' said Coleman spokesman Mike Brown. "We appreciate everything they do for us.''

Mapes said it makes sense given that the town continues to grow.

"We don't know everybody's business like we used to,'' he said, adding that he would not object if the ordinance that affects him passes.

"I don't have anything to hide.''

krichards@dispatch.com

Ethics article

The Columbus Dispatch