As part of the ongoing review of the ICMA Code of Ethics, members were asked earlier this year to provide their feedback on Tenet 3. The ICMA Committtee on Professional Conduct reviewed the feedback and has drafted changes to the tenet and guidelines. In addition, they are proposing an enhancement to the personal relationship guideline under Tenet 12. 

Why focus on Tenet 3? 

Because integrity, which is often defined as being honest and having a commitment to core principles, is an essential attribute of being a good leader. Especially for those serving in the public sector, it is critical to building trust, respect, and confidence with the public we serve.

The eight guidelines under Tenet 3, most of which were drafted in 1972, attempt to define what honor and integrity look like for a local government professional.  Issues addressed include maintaining public confidence, impression of influence, appointment commitment, credentials, treating colleagues with respect when seeking a position, and the obligation to report potential ethics violations while adhering to the confidentiality requirements of the process.

We need to hear from you! 

Please take the time to consider the proposed changes and provide your feedback by responding to the survey. Your input is a critical step in the review process.

After the survey responses have been reviewed, the committee will make a final recommendation to the ICMA Executive Board on potential changes to the tenet language and guidelines. A change to the tenet requires approval of the membership. Guideline changes require approval of the ICMA Executive Board. 

ICMA Committee on Professional Conduct Recommendations

Revise Tenet 3 

CURRENT LANGUAGE:  “Be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the respect and confidence of the elected officials, of other officials and employees, and of the public.”

PROPOSED LANGUAGE: “Demonstrate, by word and action, the highest standards of ethical conduct in all public, professional, and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the trust and respect of the elected and appointed officials, employees, and the public.”

 

Revise Tenet 3 Guidelines

Below are the proposed changes to the guidelines. For ease of reviewing, the language to be deleted is noted with a line through the text and new language is BOLD.

Public Confidence.  Members should conduct themselves so as to maintain public confidence in their position and profession, their operation of their local government, and in their responsibility to uphold performance of the public trust. 

 

Impression of Influence.  Members should conduct their official professional and personal affairs in such a manner as to give the clear impression ensure that they cannot be improperly influenced in the performance of their official duties.

 

Appointment Commitment.  Members who accept an appointment to a position should not fail to report for that position. This does not preclude the possibility of a member considering several offers or seeking several positions at the same time, but once a bona fide offer of a position has been accepted, that commitment should be honored. Oral acceptance of an employment offer is considered binding unless the employer makes fundamental changes in terms of employment.

 

Credentials.  A member’s resume for an application for employment or application for ICMA’s Voluntary Credentialing Program should be complete completely and accurately reflect the as to all pertinent details of member’s education, work experience, and personal history. Members should recognize that both omissions and inaccuracies must be avoided.

 

Professional Respect.  Members seeking a management position should show professional respect for persons formerly holding the position or for others who might be applying for the same position. Professional respect does not preclude honest differences of opinion; it does preclude attacking a person’s motives or integrity in order to be appointed to a position.

 

Reporting Ethics Violations.  When becoming aware of a possible violation of the ICMA Code of Ethics, Members are encouraged to report possible violations of the Code of Ethics to ICMA. the matter to ICMA. In reporting the matter, members may choose to go on record as the complainant or report the matter on a confidential basis.

 

Confidentiality.  Members should not discuss or divulge information with anyone about pending or completed ethics cases, except as specifically authorized by the Rules of Procedure for Enforcement of the Code of Ethics.

 

Seeking Employment. Members should not seek employment for a position with a local government which has having an incumbent administrator who has not announced his or her resignationed or been officially informed that his or her services are to be terminated. Members having contact with representative(s) of the appointive body of an incumbent administrator regarding prospective interest in the position should, as an extension of professional respect, report those contacts to the incumbent administrator. 

 

Personal Relationships in the Workplace (NEW). Members should not engage in a personal, romantic relationship with a co-worker whom they appoint and/or supervise, either directly or indirectly, through the organization’s chain of command.  

 

Proposed Revision to TENET 12 Guideline 

Conflicts of Interest Related to Personal Relationships. In any instance where there could be the appearance of a conflict of interest or personal financial gain involving an individual with whom a member has a personal relationship, the member should disclose the personal relationship to the governing body in any instance where there could be the appearance of a conflict of interest. For example, if the manager’s spouse works for a developer doing business with the local government, that fact should be disclosed.

 

Members are encouraged to review the guidelines and provide their feedback to the committee by November 30. Feedback is being collected through a short survey that gives participants the opportunity to indicate their support or opposition to the proposal and to make comments. To access this feedback mechanism, click here. Members with questions can contact ICMA staff Martha Perego, director of member services and ethics, at mperego@icma.org or Michelle Bailey-Hedgepeth, ethics advisor at mbailey@icma.org.