tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1320438766855852970.post4286919611508287606..comments2023-09-05T02:12:57.445-04:00Comments on The Busman's Holiday: Mayor Before Ethics Board: Notes & QuotesBob Mayohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284393139608821650noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1320438766855852970.post-71124797650435842732007-08-22T17:44:00.000-04:002007-08-22T17:44:00.000-04:00Bob, this is a paste from the last page of the Eth...Bob, this is a paste from the last page of the Ethics Handbook, in a section of frequently asked questions (FAQ):<BR/><BR/>Q. Can a City employee accept complimentary admission to charitable, civic, political or other public advents?<BR/>A. Yes, with limitations. No City official, City employee or agent of the City may accept more than $250.00 per calendar year in the aggregate nor may they accept more than $100.00 per calendar year from any single person, agent or other interested party. (City Code § 197.07)<BR/><BR/>This is an excerpt from a story from one of your competitors (sorry).<BR/>(http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_207205117.html):<BR/><BR/>"City attorneys determined the Mayor did not receive a round worth $9,000, but received 18 holes of golf, which is valued at $246.75. <BR/><BR/>According the City Attorneys Office, they followed IRS policy in terms of reporting the value of the item, in this case a round of golf."<BR/><BR/>Actually, maybe the Mayor received $493.50, <I>two</I> days or rounds of golf.<BR/><BR/>Obviously this is no longer an issue, but I really think the Ethics Board essentially let the Mayor lead them around. I think that they really dropped the ball on this, by letting him get away with saying that he had received nothing. Did he receive a lot? Maybe not, you can certainly make the assertion that the Mayor was in technical violation of the Ethics Code. Maybe not the case, because of vagueries in the Ethics Code, but the assertion. And maybe we don't want the Mayor to skip charitable events, but he needs to be open about what value he received.<BR/><BR/>This Mayor typically does not admit negative behavior until forced to. Unless someone holds his feet to the fire, he is not going to grow up anytime soon.EdHeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109361235271107574noreply@blogger.com