The formal review of the ICMA Code of Ethics, launched in 2013 with Tenet 7, continues this year with a focus on Tenet 3. Tenet 3 requires members to:  

“Be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the respect and confidence of the elected officials, of other officials and employees, and of the public.”

 

Why focus on Tenet 3?

Because integrity, which is often defined as being honest and having a commitment to core principles, is an essential attribute of being a good leader. Especially for those serving in the public sector, it is critical to building trust, respect, and confidence with the public we serve. 

The eight guidelines under Tenet 3, most of which were drafted in 1972, attempt to define what honor and integrity look like for a local government professional. Issues addressed include maintaining public confidence, impression of influence, appointment commitment, credentials, treating colleagues with respect when seeking a position, and the obligation to report potential ethics violations while adhering to the confidentiality requirements of the process. 

Tenet 3 is one of the two tenets of the ICMA Code of Ethics (Tenet 1 being the other) that applies to all ICMA members, regardless of their position or employment status. 

 

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Questions? Contact Martha Perego at mperego@icma.org  or Michelle Bailey-Hedgepeth at mbailey@icma.org.

Tenet 3.  Be dedicated to the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the respect and confidence of the elected officials, of other officials and employees, and of the public. 

GUIDELINES

Public Confidence.  Members should conduct themselves so as to maintain public confidence in their profession, their local government, and in their performance of the public trust. 

Impression of Influence.  Members should conduct their official and personal affairs in such a manner as to give the clear impression that they cannot be improperly influenced in the performance of their official duties. 

Appointment Commitment. Members who accept an appointment to a position should not fail to report for that position. This does not preclude the possibility of a member considering several offers or seeking several positions at the same time, but once a bona fide offer of a position has been accepted, that commitment should be honored. Oral acceptance of an employment offer is considered binding unless the employer makes fundamental changes in terms of employment. 

Credentials.  An application for employment or for ICMA’s Voluntary Credentialing Program should be complete and accurate as to all pertinent details of education, experience, and personal history. Members should recognize that both omissions and inaccuracies must be avoided. 

Professional Respect.  Members seeking a management position should show professional respect for persons formerly holding the position or for others who might be applying for the same position. Professional respect does not preclude honest differences of opinion; it does preclude attacking a person’s motives or integrity in order to be appointed to a position. 

Reporting Ethics Violations.  When becoming aware of a possible violation of the ICMA Code of Ethics, members are encouraged to report the matter to ICMA. In reporting the matter, members may choose to go on record as the complainant or report the matter on a confidential basis. 

Confidentiality.  Members should not discuss or divulge information with anyone about pending or completed ethics cases, except as specifically authorized by the Rules of Procedure for Enforcement of the Code of Ethics. 

Seeking Employment. Members should not seek employment for a position having an incumbent administrator who has not resigned or been officially informed that his or her services are to be terminated.