Schwab's Conduct Falls Below the Professional Standard

Point of View
City managers committed to integrity
Roderick Wood and Robert J. O'Neill Jr.
Posted: 08/27/2009 07:51:05 PM PDT

Recent media reports including an acknowledgment by the former Grand Terrace city manager that he took no public action to address allegations of wrongdoing by the assistant city manager in 2003 and failed to disclose the matter to the City Council and public are dismaying.
Evidently motivated by a desire not to embarrass an organization that had been scandal-free to date, the former city manager's conduct clearly fell far short of the high standards set by the local government management profession.

We feel compelled to comment on this matter to reassure the public that the former city manager's conduct is not the norm.

Across California, there are literally hundreds of cities and counties that have hired professional managers and assistants who are committed to ethical, transparent and responsive local government. As members of CAL-ICMA, these individuals understand that building faith and confidence with the public they serve requires complete honesty and transparency in all local government matters, always.

When faced with incidents of wrongdoing or a scandal, they know that the right course of action is to be completely forthcoming with the facts, cooperate with the legal system to prosecute those who crossed the line, and take immediate corrective action to reduce the opportunity for future wrongdoing.

By virtue of their membership in CAL-ICMA, these professionals agree to abide by a stringently enforced Code of Ethics, established in 1924 by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Notably, the ICMA Code of Ethics requires city and county managers to: be dedicated to the concepts of effective and democratic local government; be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships; recognize that the chief function of local government at all times is to serve the best interests of all people; refrain from all political activities which undermine public confidence in professional administrators; and, seek no favor, believing that personal aggrandizement or profit secured by confidential information or by misuse of public time is dishonest.

Our commitment to unwavering integrity - both in our professional and personal lives - is just one of the many values professional local government managers contribute to the communities they serve. It is about dedication to the highest standards of honor and integrity in all public and personal matters to merit the trust and confidence of those we serve.

Roderick Wood is president and Robert J. O'Neill Jr. is executive director of the International City/County Management Association.

And More......

Recall how many Realtors and "Old Guard" praised Tom Schwab and Steve Berry for their "Professional Conduct" of City Business. Let us hope a new page in GT history has turned. Including Standard of Operations of City Hall.