Council Members Discuss Creating Code of Ethics

Some Fredericksburg City Council members have discussed creating a Code of Ethics in response to a Fredericksburg Patch article about the mayor not disclosing at a July 10 public hearing her large donation from one of the towing companies seeking higher fees for storage and illegally parked vehicle tows.

On Wednesday, . The donation was disclosed as coming from Kelly King, an administrative assistant with "DTS" at 1313 Alum Springs Rd. Greenlaw's son and treasurer, Wilson Greenlaw, said he amended the report to show that the donation came from a corporation Dominion Towing South.

Councilman Matt Kelly said he has spoken privately with Greenlaw, Vice Mayor Brad Ellis and Councilman Fred Howe about creating a Code of Ethics similar to what the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors has now.

"I think everybody is ready to look at it," Kelly said about a Code of Ethics and the council members with whom he has spoken to so far.

He said the council could consider ethics rules at its retreat in October or "maybe we should look at it a little bit sooner."

"I think we need to be as up front about things as we can and sometimes we need some guidelines and reminders of that," Kelly said.

A Code of Ethics wouldn't be a legal document because state code dictates conflicts of interest rules, but it would be a set of guidelines that council members could follow to avoid appearances of conflicts and to be more transparent, and because it isn't a legal document, it could require more transparceny than any law. The City Council has a policies and procedures manual that says elected leaders need to abstain from voting on items of personal interest that apply solely to the council member or that prevent impartial voting and not to engage in unethical conduct, such as accepting anything of value or disclosing confidential information. But state law has exemptions for political campaigns.

"I think it is a good idea," said Vice-Mayor Ellis. "I think it is surprising that we don't have one. I think any legislative body should have a Code of Ethics that serves as a guide."

Howe, who came in second to Greenlaw in the May 1 mayoral race, wrote the following email today:

"Neither I, or my campaign team received cash, in-kind or any other labor or financial support or help from nor was I contacted by – any of the towing companies in the City or elsewhere nor did I have any conversations with any parties during my campaign, from announcement in late 2011 until election day, May 1^st.

I will tell you that in this small yet expensive campaign; I know all those who donated to my campaign and they were acknowledged by me personally through a  thank you note for their donations be it a small or large donation we received and we properly listed in my campaign report all donations, as required by State campaign rules.

Additionally, I believe the City Council should require a “Code of Ethics” be developed / adopted and signed by all Council members immediately, based on the situation which has just occurred."