Press Releases

Springfield City Councilors Markey and Stebbins Propose Strengthened City Ethics Ordinance For Officials and Lobbyists

March 22, 2008

For Immediate Release

Springfield City Councilors Patrick Markey and Bruce Stebbins announced their sponsorship for a new ethics ordinance for city officials, department heads and lobbyists. You may download the ordinance here (PDF -- Right click to have the option to download the file to your computer and read it off-line, otherwise the file will open in your browser).

The primary objective of this proposed ordinance is transparency. Among other things, it requires that city officials disclose financial interests and mandates that lobbyists register with the City Clerk. It will make it easier for citizens to follow the money.' Hopefully, it will go some way toward ensuring that the decisions of our city officials are not contaminated by self interest and personal financial interest, stated Councilor Patrick Markey.

City Councilor Bruce Stebbins stated, As someone who has worked at the federal and state levels of government, these guidelines and requirements are not unusual and it is easily applicable to city government. Members of our state delegation have to comply with similar guidelines. As a city official, I want our residents can feel confident that their public servants are always acting in their best interest. If there are violations, there are penalties that go along with it.

The ordinance, which to a large extent mirrors statutes that apply to state officials and lobbyists, includes key provisions that address:

• Conduct of city employees and how they can make sure that they or other family members do not gain personal benefit from the decision-making process
• Local guidelines regarding gifts
• New guidelines for lobbyists (municipal agents) who seek to influence the outcome of governmental bodies including the mayor, city council and other commissions, including registering the individual's name with the city clerk, recording lobbying activities and contributions
• Financial disclosure statements for city officials, including elected officials, department heads and deputy and assistant heads as well as commission members
• Penalties for violations

Markey stated, I have spoken to the Mayor generally about our proposed ordinance and he is reviewing it. I expect that he and our other colleagues on the council will sign on to it. This is a common sense ordinance. In addition to making it easier to track the influence of money on our governmental decision makers, it is a code of conduct. It sets standards which most working in and around government have always met. It imposes consequences for those who don't.

Stebbins added, The unethical behavior of local elected officials can stain a community's reputation for years. In terms of economic development alone, we never want to hear a business decision-maker tell us that they did not feel comfortable locating in Springfield because our city government would not treat them fairly.

Markey and Stebbins will introduce the ordinance change at their first council meeting in May. They will share copies of the proposed ordinance with their colleagues and invite additional co-sponsors before the meeting.