Calling for the appointment of an Integrity Officer for the Council of the City of Philadelphia who shall advise members of Council and their staff on issues related to ethics; refer appropriate matters to Council's Committee on Ethics; and serve as a liaison, when deemed necessary, between the Council and all ethics-related offices, boards, and commissions.

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 040001 (“Rules of Council”) provides Rules for the Governance of the Council of the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The Rules of Council establish a Committee on Ethics consisting of the Committee of the Whole; and

WHEREAS, The Committee on Ethics shall conduct investigations of individual members of the Council after the Council by majority vote shall have approved the filing of charges against such members for alleged violations of Chapter 20-600 of the Philadelphia Code or the Rules of Council; and

WHEREAS, The Council shall have approved by majority vote a resolution authorizing such investigation; and

WHEREAS, Council has, subsequent to the approval of its Rules, offered legislation amending Chapter 20-600 to create an independent Board of Ethics with powers and duties affirmed by the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Ethics, under Chapter 20-600, shall have the responsibility of training and educating all City officers and employees regarding the standards of conduct and ethics under that Chapter; and

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia affirms its adoption of rules for its governance on ethics-related matter and the need to work cooperatively with ethics-related offices, boards, and commissions; and

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia, as the legislative body which approved the new Board of Ethics, wants to serve as a model for the standard of conduct and ethics required under Chapter 20-600; now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Shall appoint an Integrity Officer who shall advise members of Council and their staff on issues related to ethics; refer appropriate matters to Council’s Committee on Ethics; and serve as a liaison, when deemed necessary, between the Council and all ethics-related offices, boards, and commissions.

End