The Code of Ethics Workgroup was charged with designing a new document to promote and enforce ethical government. Its’ results are under review by the new 11 member council, which has until mid March to adopt or revise the plan.

One of the nation’s foremost law and ethics professors, Richard Condit has studied the proposed local document. At a seminar in Cleveland sponsored by the League of Women voters, he praised key features such as adding an ethics board and requiring a registry for businesses working with the county.

He also offered recommendations and adjustments, such as better protection from retaliation – for employees willing to become whistleblowers. Condit is senior counsel to the Government Accountability Project, a whistleblower protection group based in Washington D.C.

RICHARD CONDIT:
“In many instances, the best people to tell you what’s going on, are the people on the ground, are doing the day to day job, the people that are observing what goes on and what goes right and what goes wrong.”

District Six council Rep Jack Schron says he enthusiastically supports the proposal, saying ethics had to be far more than just tweaking what few rules were in place.

JACK SCHRON:

“First step was to endorse the state’s program, and then from there it’s to build upon and pick out the best parts that we can grow and develop even a more robust culture for the ethical practices here in the county.”

Council District 5’s Mike Gallagher likes the overall plan, and sees it as one that makes Cuyahoga County employees, administrators and contractors – more dependable in the eyes of the public.

MIKE GALLAGHER:
“This is probably the best way to start – to be honest with ya. And the stronger it is and the more broad it is, the better its’ going to be.”

Gallagher says the council is willing to work with the County Executive’s office in refining the document.
Once a final code is adopted it will be prominently displayed on line.