Ethics Group - May 14

A City That Works - May 14, 2008
Ethics Discussion Group at The Inquirer Building

The members of this citizen dialogue group were primarily from areas near City Hall: the Art Museum, Center City, Roxborough and Northern Liberties sections of Philadelphia.  This cohort featured college graduates and business professionals.  There were also several members of the government of the City of Philadelphia, including a lead member of Mayor Nutter’s ethics team and his legislative affairs director. These individuals responded in their individual capacities as citizens of Philadelphia.

The tenor of the discussions was respectful and thoughtful.  The group took its charge very seriously and members of the group from city government with relevant knowledge answered questions that related to the mayor’s current position on ethics.  This made the discussions very rich and it appeared that ideas generated from the dialogue were taken under consideration and advisement by these members city government.

This group was motivated to generate viable solutions.  Additionally, the group was well aware of the link between ethics and the other elements of the strategic plan.  This understanding helped to inform the discussion and tempered the responses, which were guided by reality-based thinking.

-- Steven N. Pyser

What does this goal mean to you?

• Acknowledge that not all city workers are unethical and most are hard-working city workers.

• Civic pride.

• Clean government.

• End of “pay to play” politics.

• Honesty and fairness are the hallmarks of ethical conduct.

• Leading by example – driven from the top down.

• New beginning.

• Performance should reflect service to the people, not for yourself.

• Positive influence of new leadership in the mayoralty.

• Show me - don't tell me about - ethics.

Performance measures (What success would look like)

• The City of Philadelphia shall publish on the Internet its ethical performance expectations for employees and individuals/organizations doing business with the city.

• The city shall educate and empower its managers to apply fair and reasonable progressive discipline for ethical transgressions. 

• The city shall commission surveys of the ethical environment of city government that include sampling of employees, citizens, contractors and stakeholders.  The design of this process shall be made by experts who can extrapolate the results to obtain true and accurate readings of the state of ethics in Philadelphia.

• Evaluate information anecdotally that includes reports regarding ethics in the print and television media, number of criminal indictments, and results of completed investigation of ethical violations by the government of the City of Philadelphia.

• Prompt action in response to ethical violations and transgressions consistent with previously identified standards of ethical conduct.  Accountability for one's actions are to be applied across all levels of the government.

Customer-service standards

• Individuals contacting the City of Philadelphia will always reach a "live" person and not voicemail. Through this contact, the person will answer in a positive way that conveys a sincere interest in helping the caller.

• Individuals responding to citizen inquiries will assume ownership of the problem (within job description) and responsibility for providing the solution.

• New slogan: "We work for you and to be responsive to your needs."

• Another new slogan: "Call us -- we'll have (or get) answers.”