The Culture of Ethics That the Public Sector Needs
Formal codes of ethics are worthwhile, but there is a lot more that can be done, both in government and in schools of public administration.
October 10, 2014 • The current issue of
Public Administration Review includes a fascinating article by James Svara of Arizona State University on ethics for public servants. The genesis of Svara s inquiry is the adoption last year by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) of a revision of its code of ethics.
ASPA first adopted a code of ethics in 1984, but other professional organizations had such codes much earlier, going back (at least in this country) to the International City/County Management Association s code that was adopted in 1924. Svara recounts the history of codes of ethics and reviews the debates about their usefulness. This could not be more timely. Given the seemingly incessant drumbeat of scandals at all levels of gov
Citizen participation in local government is abysmally low, but a national survey shows what types of people are most and least likely people to speak up.
Rehoboth Beach announces communications specialist, additional staff notes
Delaware News Desk
Lynne Coan, a communications professional with more than two decades of experience working to help build community in local jurisdictions through communications and engagement, has joined the city of Rehoboth Beach as communications specialist.
Previously, Coan was public information officer with the city of Suwanee, Georgia, for 15 years and most recently served as communications and marketing manager with the town of Vienna, Virginia, where she worked for five years. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from the University of Richmond.
“We’re excited to welcome Lynne to the city of Rehoboth Beach,” said City Manager Sharon Lynn, “and to put her considerable experience and communication skills to work on behalf of the city and its residents.”
Ann Arbor adopts 9 ‘behavioral norms’ for council members to follow
Updated May 08, 2021;
Posted May 07, 2021
Council Member Julie Grand, D-3rd Ward, speaks about new rules for governing Ann Arbor City Council members conduct, suggesting they can disagree on issues without putting forward conspiracy theories about each other s motives.CTN
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In a 9-2 vote, council adopted a new set of nine “behavioral norms” that council members are asked to follow:
Work with other council members to establish effective policies.
Encourage the free expression of opinion on policy issues by all council members.
Use the same care and caution when using electronic media as would be exercised when speaking face-to-face or through written memorandum.
editor@messengernews.net
WEBSTER CITY The City Council of Webster City Monday night appointed Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez as city manager.
Ortiz-Hernandez was Webster City’s city manager from 2016 to 2018. He will begin his duties at the end of July.
The search for a new city manager has been underway since the resignation of Jeff Sheridan in December 2020. After an unsuccessful search and the fact that there are several communities in Iowa and the Midwest searching for a city manager at this time, city officials decided to pause before starting the search again.
Officials learned that Ortiz-Hernandez and his family wished to return to the Midwest, and so communication was initiated with him concerning the possibility of returning to the position.