The Need for a Revised Ethics Ordinance in Warren City

The Warren City Council has recently voted to revise the city’s ethics ordinance after receiving several ethics complaints from residents. The existing ordinance does not have a complaint procedure, and this has led to confusion regarding who investigates and writes reports, creating a lack of due process. In this opinion editorial, we discuss the need for reformation of the existing ordinance and the importance of maintaining an impartial ethics process that is not used as a political weapon.

Why the Current Ethics Ordinance is Flawed

According to Council Attorney Jeffrey Schroder, the existing ethics ordinance, which was drafted in 1991 and amended in 1999, has remained largely unchanged over the last 25 years. The ordinance only applies to city council, the mayor, and the city’s boards and commissions, which means that it does not cover complaints against other city employees, leaving them with little accountability. Moreover, the ordinance fails to direct complainants on how to file a complaint or provide guidelines to guide someone who wants to submit a complaint. Thus, the complaint process is riddled with complexity and confusion.

Proposed Solutions

For the ethics ordinance to work effectively, there is the need for a complaints procedure, a clear review committee or panel, and impartiality in resolving complaints. Schroder suggested an administrative law judge to review allegations and recommended that the findings are given to the council or the mayor, who would decide on the penalty to enforce. The Warren City council agreed that the new ordinance should address ethical complaints against any city employee, board member and its commissions, and create a complaint procedure that would provide guidance in filing a complaint and due process.

Maintaining Impartiality in the Ethics Process

Councilman Jonathan Lafferty emphasized that the ethics process should reflect neutrality during last week’s meeting. He stated that it is essential to avoid turning the ethics process into a political weapon, which could be used to settle scores. The reformation of the ethics ordinance should aim to create an unbiased, impartial, and transparent complaints procedure, where every person filing a complaint knows the procedure and understands due processes. The ethics police should be neutral, thereby ensuring that decisions arrived at by the panel or committee are not based on political affiliations or sentiments.

The Role of the Media

The media can help to maintain impartial accountability in Warren City by reporting objectively on possible ethical violations. The media should create public awareness to inform anyone who wants to report, respecting the existing laws and regulations while acting as a watchdog of the ethical conduct of Warren City officials and employees.

Conclusion

The Warren City Council’s decision to revise the ethics ordinance is a step in the right direction. It is time to remove the inadequacies embedded in the current ethics ordinance and improve accountability. Reforms that would provide a complaint procedure and an impartial review panel would go a long way in restoring the faith of the residents in the ethical conduct of Warren City officials and employees.

Originally Post From https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2024/07/15/warren-city-council-wants-to-update-the-citys-ethics-ordinance/74373357007/

Warren City Council Seeks to Revamp Ethics Ordinance: The Detroit News