CITY OF GRASS VALLEY
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FOR AB 1234 ETHICS COMPLIANCE TRAINING
5:30 P. M., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013
AGENDA
A. PRESENTATION – The Council will be participating in a required training program
1. AB 1234 ETHICS COMPLIANCE TRAINING
PRESENTED BY:
Michael G. Colantuono of
Colantuono & Levin, PC
Background is here:
•Since 2005, as required by AB 1234, public officials are required to attend ethics training. Public officials are required to complete the training within one year of taking office, and repeat the training every two years.
•What can local officials and their communities do to prevent a culture of self-interest over public interest from taking hold? What can they do to make sure abuses of authority do not occur in their communities?
The strategy includes:
Understanding public service ethics principles and laws;
Engaging the community in public agency decision-making; and
Supporting a strong community information structure.
•Responsibilities of office
Proper use and safeguarding of agency property and resources
Conflicts of interest
Gifts of public funds
Financial interest disclosures
Government transparency, including the Public Records Act
Due process requirements
Incompatible offices
Brown Act
Compensation and expense reimbursemen
•Here are some questions:
1) If a particular course of action is legal, then it is necessarily ethical. True or false.
2) A true leader is independent, and doesn’t concern him or herself with the public’s perception of his or her ethics. True or false.
3) It’s difficult to define what constitutes an ethical course of action because ethics are so subjective. True or false.
4) Ethics laws are generally a matter of common sense. True or false.
5) Being ethical means being willing to do the right thing even when there will be a personal cost. True or false.
1-F, 2-F, 3-F, 4-F, 5-T
•A case involving alleged Brown Act violations in Grass Valley in 2010 is here and here.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Good Morning Jeff,
Nevada City has already completed their AB 1234 and Sexual Harassment requirements. The Nevada County Historic Landmarks Commission has also completed this requirement. I am a Commissioner.
My best,
Thanks for the update Niel. Nevada City certainly had its share of these AB1234 issues over the years, but they seem to have subsided. I am glad to see GV getting an update. As you know, I felt the recent issue of the city funding the Chamber deserved far more transparency, and there was a high-profile Brown Act incident less than three years ago. True leaders should be deeply concerned about the public’s perception of their ethics, as some of the background points out. And just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical.
The AB 1234 is required every 2 years. I am sorry the Assembly members are not required to attend as well.
Here are the ethics standards for legislators:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/the_state_legislature/rules_and_ethics/ethics.html