Ethics are the core of building and maintaining public trust in the local government management profession and with the communities in which members serve. ICMA’s Code of Ethics was adopted in 1924 and guidelines to it were added in 1972 to assist members in meeting their ethical obligations.

Ongoing Tenet Review

In 2013, the ICMA Executive Board began a structured effort with the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC) to review each tenet with the membership.  In October 2019, the membership approved changes to Tenets 1 and 2 that have been incorporated into the ICMA Code of Ethics. To date, Tenets 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 12 have been revised.  Amendments to the tenets require membership approval, while changes to the guidelines require executive board approval.   

Member Feedback Requested on Proposed Changes to Tenets 5 and 6

Formal review of the Code of Ethics continues with a current focus on Tenets 5 and 6 and the Tenet 5 guideline on conflicting roles.  The CPC facilitated discussions with members during the regional conferences and state association meetings in the first part 2019 to gain feedback on the tenets’ relevancy to the profession and ethical challenges members encounter in developing and implementing policy with elected officials. The committee then reviewed the feedback received from members to draft proposed changes for the membership’s consideration.

Current Tenet 5 Language

Submit policy proposals to elected officials; provide them with facts and advice on matters of policy as a basis for making decisions and setting community goals; and uphold and implement local government policies adopted by elected officials.

Proposed Redraft

Submit policy proposals to elected officials; provide them with technical and professional advice about policy options; and collaborate with them in setting goals for the community and organization.

Current Tenet 6 Language

Recognize that elected representatives of the people are entitled to the credit for the establishment of local government policies; responsibility for policy execution rests with the members.

Proposed Redraft

Recognize that elected representatives are accountable to the people for the decisions they make; members are responsible for implementing those decisions.

Survey

All members were sent an email inviting comments on the proposed recommendations through a short survey.  The survey will be open until November 21 and all members are encouraged to respond.  The committee is interested in member feedback on the new proposed language to help committee members further refine their recommendations to the ICMA Executive Board.

Members with questions about the survey or the efforts to revise the ICMA Code of Ethics can contact, Martha Perego, director of member services and ethics, at mperego@icma.org or Jessica Cowles, ethics advisor, at jcowles@icma.org.