The Ethics Court: You Be the Judge! ACMA 2011 Winter Conference Susan Thorpe, Deputy City Manager, Peoria Lloyd Harrell, Range Rider

Goals for today Reinforce values of public service Avoid the pitfalls, slippery slope and headlines of bad choices Create an ethical culture Draw that clear line in the sand

Why focus on ethics? Critical to a thriving democracy –Building public trust and confidence in what we do Limitations of laws and rules No success without a focus on ethics Your legacy of leadership

What is ethics? Knowing the difference between right and wrong, and choosing to do what is right. Commitment to the highest set of standards not the lowest common denominator…more than adherence to the law.

Every Day Decisions  Are my requests for expense reimbursements completely accurate?  Do I use the city or county vehicle to run personal errands?  Do I accept gifts of significant value?  Do I take long lunches/breaks and disregard work deadlines and commitments?

Every Day Decisions  Could my friendly relationship with the contractor cloud my judgment?  Am I careful not to do personal favors for friends and family?  Do I apply work rules in an arbitrary way because I like some staff members more than others?  Do I accept responsibility for my mistakes or blame others?

Crossing the Bright Line Illegal ► Legal ► “Ouch” ► Ok ► The Best Conduct ……Can you think of some-…thing that is legal but unethical? …Can you think of something that is legal but unethical?

Preserving the Intangibles “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you’ll do things differently.” Warren Buffett

Preserving the Intangibles  If life gives you limes, make margaritas.  If we weren't all crazy, we'd just go insane.  Indecision may or may not be my problem. Jimmy Buffett

4 Core Principles of Public Service 1.Seek no favor 2.Build trust through transparency and honesty 3.Treat all equitably 4.Build great communities through good stewardship

1. Seek no favor  Public officials receive only the stipends and salaries provided to them.  Don’t:  Leverage your official position for advantage or prestige  Take or solicit gifts related to your official position  Use organization resources for personal use

1. Seek no favor The Perils of Accepting Gifts Is the gift significant enough that a reasonable person would assume it was a reward or intended to gain favor? Remember….

2. Build trust through transparency and honesty  Do the right thing and take responsibility  Tell the truth  Share information openly and generously  Be alert to potential conflicts of interest: discern, disclose and disengage  Give complete, fair and accurate information  Procurement and budget decisions serve the public’s interests

3. Treat all equitably  Engage and serve all people in the community  Fairness drives decisions not expediency  Fairness and merit guide all personnel matters  Respect roles and contributions of residents, elected officials and staff

4. Build great communities through good stewardship  Bring a deep sense of social responsibility to your work  Be a custodian of the public trust  Develop competence in yourself and others  Contribute to a positive culture where ethical conduct will thrive  Leave your community in better shape than you found it

Unethical Conduct….why it happens  Uncharted territory or inexperience  Pressures in the environment  Management lapses  Personal loyalties  Personal cost to do the right thing is too high  Arrogance: the rules don’t apply to me  Lost perspective

Ethical Warning Signs  “No one will ever know...”  “I deserve it...” (or “They owe it to me...”)  “They’ll never miss it...”  “Everyone is doing it…”  “It’s okay if I don’t gain personally”  “Technically, it’s legal...”

The Ethical Test: Ask Yourself…  Is it legal?  Does it comply with our rules and regulations?  Is it consistent with our organizational values?  Am I the only or prime beneficiary of an offer or service?  Does it match our stated commitments?  Will I feel okay and guilt free if I do this?  Would I do it to my family and friends?  Would I be okay if someone did it to me?  Would the most ethical person I know do this?