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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998/02/23 Board of Ethics Minutes CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA MINUTES OF A BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING February 23, 1998 City Attorney's Conference Room 3:50 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Juan Gonzales, Richard Schulman, Carson, Jean Rogers, Susan Herney, Gibert Joanne Ricardo MEMBERS ABSENT: Chet DeVore OFFICIALS/STAFF PRESENT: Ellen Faye Gross, Deputy City Attorney Toni McKean, Training Coordinator The meeting was called to order at 3:50 p.m. 1. Roll Call All members were present, except Chet DeVore. 2. Approval of Minutes. MSUC (Schu1man/Herney) to approve the minutes of January 12, 1998 with the following corrections: Page 3, Item No. 7(b), Paragraph 2: Add - sentence to now read: "The Committee needs to reassess the arrangements and staffing and make recommendations for adequate provisions so that duties can be fulfilled." Page 3, Item No. 7(b), Paragraph 3: Correction, Delete and Add - sentence to now read: "It is recommended that new Chair Gonzales meet with new City Manager and possibly new City council, in hopes that they will be more amenable to supporting the Ethics program through a specific budget item for staff support" . 3. Oral Communications None 4. citv Mission Statement Members discuss whether City Wide Ethics Statement should be presented to the Council and if so, when and under what forum. Discussions ensue regarding logistics on having this item being Board of Ethics Minutes February 23, 1998 Page 2 placed on Agenda for presentation to Council. Richard Schulman suggests John Kaheny implement the process by preparing the Agenda Statement, take it to the City Manager's Meeting, in hopes it would continue on to Council for approval. Also, that upon adoption of the Ethics Statement, Council allow it to be included in the orientation materials/packet as well as be introduced at Departmental staff meetings. The Board suggests recommending to City Council the adoption of this City wide Mission statement and advising Council that a proposed Ethics Statement has been drafted and the Board is willing to provide assistance should Council so desire. Chair Gonzales asks for the Members' input regarding the "City wide Ethics Statement" as drafted by City Attorney, John Kaheny. Discussion ensues regarding the Ethics Statement and any recommended modifications thereto. Members make suggested modifications to Ethics statement as previously drafted to include "all city employees." Board members would like to be present for recommendation for adoption of the Ethics Statement to Council. Board members want to thank John Kaheny for drafting the Ethics Statement. 5. Training Coordinator Report Toni McKean is still waiting for a response from the Mayor's office regarding the Mayor's approval and her availability to be present for a meeting with Ms. Dolbee to make a presentation. The Ethics Statements packet is complete. Toni advises mid-managers have voted to put together a forum of candidates before elections. Chair Gonzales presented questions to Toni McKean regarding additional training the City provides to its employees regarding ethical diversity, sexual harassment policies and/or EEO issues. Toni McKean advises the City does have some materials that addresses these issues. Members discuss the possibility of suggesting to Council upon its acceptance of the Ethics Statement, that it possibly be included in the orientation process/packet. Toni McKean states the Board could Board of Ethics Minutes February 23, 1998 Page 3 make this part of fOllow-up of the Fall 1995 Mandate to educate the staff, and that she would attend City staff meetings to distribute the adopted Ethics statement. Previous Motion was discussed regarding amending the original resolution to add that the City wide Ethics statement be added to the orientation and be distributed to all current employees and officials. MSUC(SchulmanjHerney) Motion to convert the amendment to a separate motion. MSUC (GibertjSchulman) Motion to amend the original Resolution to adopt the City wide Ethics statement so that the statement be distributed to new and current employees, as well as appointed and elected officials and be made available to the public. Related activities might include distribution with a certificate of receipt. 6. Members' Comments Members inquiry regarding Chair Gonzales' duties with his new position in the Internal Affairs Unit. Chair Gonzales briefly describes his new duties. Member Schulman feel Chair Gonzales may be able to share some of the issues he will be exposed to and that they would be helpful to the City of Chula vista. Members discuss reviewing the procedures when complaints are filed regarding elections matters. Susan Herney reminds members of "Flow- Chart" to assist in the procedure. Members also briefly discuss materials that are handed out to candidates. Chair Gonzales agrees and mentions to Members that meetings be no longer than one (1) hour in length. Chair Gonzales calls next meeting for Monday, March 23, 1998 at 3:45 p.m. MSUC (Chair GonzalesjHerney) to adjourn tpe meeting at 4:45 p.m. ~ c: \cLs \et h j c s\rn i nut cs\ 0::'2 J~)8. rni Ii CITY OF CHULA VISTA POLICY TRAINING UPDATE #1 RUMORS As a reminder to all employees, the creation and spreading of rumors regarding fellow employees, including those who have left the City, results in a negative work environment. Rumors are usually partially or totally inaccurate and are always destructive. They often infringe on an individual's personal life and can ruin personal relationships as well as professional reputations. The City of Chula Vista is committed to the goal of maintaining a positive work environment that is productive and free of harassment. Rumors create just the opposite environment. Employees often repeat rumors with no intent to offend or hurt anyone, but unfortunately, the result is quite different. Rumors that link people in romantic or physical relationships, as well as rumors that refer to members of protected classes as defined by the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) and CalifomiaFair Employment and Housing Laws (age, race, national origin, ancestry, religion, color, creed, pregnancy, disability, cancer-related medical problem, sex, marital status, and/or sexual orientation), can be a violation of the City of Chula Vista's General and Sexual Harassment Policy. These types of rumors often create a hostile work environment. What you shouldn't do: . Participate by listening to others telling rumors. . Gossip. . Conjecture. Conjecture, speculation, or opinion on your part can later be misinterpreted as fact by others. What you should do: . Take a proactive stance in squelching the rumor by not repeating it. . Discourage others from spreading rumors. What management wiU do: . In addition to taking the same steps to control rumors that you will take, management will: Discourage rumors by responding quickly to appropriate inquiries and by taking appropriate action against employees spreading rumors which may include discipline. As Lt. Gordon Graham, in his General and Sexual Harassment Training, has taught us over the last couple of years, "If it is predictable, it is preventable." We know rumors can and will create problems, therefore, we can avoid the problems by stopping rumors. The City wants a workplace where every employee has a right to a private life as well as a harassment-free work environment. polky.l (3127/97) DRAFT [AS MODIFIED AT 2/23/98 MEETING and APPROVED BY JOHN M. KAHENY] CITY WIDE ETHICS STATEMENT The City of Chula vista aspires to set the highest legal, ethical and moral standards for its elected officials, appointed officials, and all city employees in all aspects of city government and thereby provide a model for all residents of the City of Chula vista to follow. All individuals shall be treated with courtesy and fairness in their dealings with the City of Chula vista. The public trust is a sacred trust and activities by officials of the city government that are incompatible with such trust will not be tolerated by the City of Chula vista. Every effort shall be made to ensure that, in the daily exercise of their duties, officials and employees of the City of Chula vista uphold the Constitution of the united states, the Constitution of the state of California and the Charter of the City of Chula vista. The practice of legal, ethical and moral conduct in the performance of one's public duty is critical to the proper discharge of the duties of office. All residents of the City of Chula vista shall be secure in the belief that they will be treated honestly and fairly by their city government. c:\cbs\ethics\stmt2.drt