WHEREAS, A proper ethics training program would
educate employees on the legal and ethical issues they face; and
WHEREAS, An ethics training program would generate a comprehensive code of conduct and would also
provide a proactive method for managing this code and the procedures thereof
; and
WHEREAS, Both the State of Illinois and New York City Council, among numerous corporations nation wide, have hired consultants to design customized ethics training programs to incorporate their respective ethics and values into their employees’ decisions and actions ; and
WHEREAS, Integrating ethics throughout an agency builds trust, protects reputations and allows for more transparency; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Board of Ethics traces it roots back to 1962, when the Ethics Code was enacted by City Council in response to the recommendations of the 1962 Fordham Report; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Ethics was modified by executive order on August 12, 2004 to help the Board carry out its duties, which includes providing education and training to all city employees on the City’s ethics rules and regulations; and
WHEREAS, Bill 051024, a Charter change passed by Philadelphia City Council on December 1, 2005 and signed by the Mayor on December 15, 2005, would reconstitute the Board of Ethics to be independent and have the responsibility of training and educating all City officers and employees regarding the standards of conduct and ethics; and
WHEREAS, Bill 051024 further requires the Board of Ethics to develop and conduct routine and mandatory educational and training programs for all City officers and employees; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA That authority be given to the Legislative Oversight Committee to hold public hearings on implementing a training program designed to equip all City officials and employees with the ethics knowledge needed to make better decisions and take appropriate actions.
End