ORANGE : City Ethics Manual to Be Distributed

A manual of ethics and values, nearly three years in the making, soon will be distributed to all City Hall employees.

Councilwoman Joanne Coontz began a campaign in 1987 to update the code of ethics as outlined in a 1972 City Council resolution.

“A resolution is not worth the paper it’s written on unless you do something about it,” Coontz said. “A lot of new employees knew nothing” about the ethics resolution.

Last month, the council adopted a new manual that summarizes the city’s ethical policies and provides a statement of values. The pamphlet will be printed in-house and distributed to all employees, Coontz said.

“We know that the city is growing and people are coming in from all over who are not familiar with our city,” Coontz said. “I just think people should know more about the corporation they work for. It’s a good thing to pass out to all employees and all new appointments on commissions and committees.”

The pamphlet, which emphasizes honesty, integrity and loyalty, includes a statement of values and outlines standards of conduct and ethical principals. The margins of the manual are filled with quotes from leaders and philosophers such as Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, John Morley and others.

The manual’s “statement of values,” a guide designed to provide continuity for the city’s leadership, lists the worth of the individual, effective service, future planning and individual commitment to public service as high priorities for all employees.

The manual is drawn from the 1972 code, a values statement used by the city of Fairfield and a report by the League of California Cities Committee.