The Voice

While many of us were worrying about writing research papers and studying for classes this week, the City Council of Milledgeville adopted a Code of Ethics for local officials. This came as news to us here at the Colonnade, as we were already under the impression that city officials had some guidelines to follow in the arena of public decency. Apparently in the world of City Government, these things must be spelled out for members.
The City Council adopted these measures in part to become a recognized “City of Ethics” in the state of Georgia. Yet the establishing of these rules may leave you wondering why there was even a need to commit this to public record.
For example, the Code of Ethics requires that Milledgeville Officials remain, “Independent, impartial and responsible to the people … that public office not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.”
Does it come as a surprise to anyone that the City of Milledgeville would need to codify these sorts of regulations? At the Colonnade we were under the impression that such qualities were already expected of a city official.
These newly adopted ordinances would make it “illegal” for a city council member to swindle money from Milledgeville and use it to buy a new car. Also frowned upon now is using one’s position as city council member to get confidential information and use it against people one hates. And if a city council member was considering using their position of authority to hire their delinquent brother to keep up the city’s finances – sorry, but officials don’t do that sort of thing in a “City of Ethics.”
Here comes the best part.
When the City Council members feel like ignoring these new rules of ethics they face almost comical consequences. If a council member acts in a way that contradicts the Code of Ethics, they will get a written reprimand by the council and a fine somewhere between $50, and $300.
Just for fun, we here at the Colonnade decided to look at some indiscretions for which we, as ordinary citizens, would be fined in this price range.
A city council member can use public money to finance a vacation to the Bahamas and be fined at least fifty dollars. You and I get caught by the police without a seatbelt on, and we are written a ticket for $66! If one of your headlights is out, it will cost you $66, as well. If this blows your mind, stick around; it only gets better.
Fifty dollars will be enough to cover a city council person if they decide to give special treatment to a business in which they hold stock. Yet, if you are 22 and caught with an open container of alcohol – be prepared to shell out $370.
We hope that the irony of this situation is not lost on any of our readers. If you are too alarmed by this information, just be thankful that we now live in a “City of Ethics.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 26 2004. Filed under Our Voice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry