Label
Councilwoman Moline
Title
Enacting a new Section 115.05 of the Toledo Municipal Code, “Mandatory Yearly Ethics Training and Pledge of Ethical Conduct”; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Toledo City Council recognizes that the people of the City of Toledo are entitled to a responsible, fair and honest city government that operates at the highest level of ethical and moral conduct. Council also recognizes that those elected to public office have been given a public trust and that trust requires leadership in creating and sustaining a culture of ethics in the City of Toledo. Council is committed to assuring that the minimum core ethical standards established herein are adhered to in day to day practices at Toledo City Council and throughout the City. Council also recognizes that policies are most effective when members are thoroughly familiar with them and embrace their provisions. Therefore, a review of this Pledge of Ethical Conduct will be included in orientation for new council members and staff and the Pledge will be reviewed and signed annually by Council Members.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That Toledo Municipal Code section 115.05, “Mandatory Yearly Ethics Training,” which reads as follows, is hereby repealed:
115.05 Mandatory Yearly Ethics Training
Any member elected to the body of the Council of the City of Toledo must attend a yearly in person or online ethics training provided by the Ohio Ethics Commission. The first such training is to be completed within six months of election or appointment and then annually thereafter. A certificate of completion or other proof of attendance shall be kept on file with the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 2. That a new Toledo Municipal Code section 115.05, “Mandatory Yearly Ethics Training and Ethics Pledge,” which reads as follows, is hereby enacted:
115.05 Mandatory Yearly Ethics Training and Pledge of Ethical Conduct
(a) Any member elected to the body of the Council of the City of Toledo must attend a yearly in person or online ethics training provided by the Ohio Ethics Commission. The first such training is to be completed within six months of election or appointment and then annually thereafter. A certificate of completion or other proof of attendance shall be kept on file with the Clerk of Council.
(b) All members of Toledo City Council shall sign the Pledge of Ethical Conduct identified in Appendix A of Title 3 of the Toledo Municipal Code at the first regular business meeting of Toledo City Council each year. In the event a newly elected or appointed Council Member is sworn in at a meeting other than the first business meeting of the year, that member shall sign the Pledge of Ethical Conduct at the first business meeting during which the Council Member assumes the duties of office. All such signed Pledges shall be kept on file with the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 3. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this Ordinance were passed in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and any of its committees that resulted in such formal action, were in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all legal requirements including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
SECTION 4. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and property and for the further reason that it is necessary to confirm the commitment to the highest level of ethical standards in the conduct of Members of Toledo City Council.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council