In Our Opinion

Why is it that the City Council can’t craft a reasonable ethics ordinance?

For over a year the council has been grappling – and largely putting off – passing an ethics ordinance, as required by the City Charter.

The first version required public officials, both elected and appointed, to reveal far too much personal financial information, to the point where no one would dare volunteer to be part of any committee or commission.

Councilmember Cathie Gordon, who is in her first year in office, had the good sense to follow through and modify the ordinance by taking out that requirement. But just when you’d think the proposal was all set and done and ready for adoption, things went haywire.

We’re getting the feeling that some on council are purposely stalling this ordinance.

Last week the council added a provision allowing city employees and officials to call the city attorney directly for personal, yet city-related, issues without first getting permission from the city manager.

City Manager William Cooper wisely pointed out that if employees and officials are allowed to call for legal advice without first being vetted for their reasons, the city’s legal bills would  have the potential to bankrupt Hamtramck.

The council also inserted a requirement for all candidates – including both winners and losers, to submit campaign contributions and expenses – even if the expenditures is under $1,000.

This goes beyond state election law. Candidates who receive or spend less than $1,000 are not required to fill out campaign financial reports. The ordinance also calls for filing the reports with the City Clerk’s office. As it stands now, financial reports only have to be submitted to the Wayne County Election Division.

Why on earth would we make candidates go an extra mile to file a report even if they receive less than $1,000?

We do agree that filing the reports with the City Clerk’s Office is not unreasonable.

But to require candidates to make a report if they receive less than $1,000, that’s going too far. The net effect of this requirement will be to turn off potential candidates because they will be faced with a burdensome financial report to fill out.

Hamtramck campaigns aren’t what they used to be when elected officials received $12,000 to $20,000 a year. Few candidates spend anywhere near $1,000.

If this requirement goes forward, we will have fewer candidates running and that will mean fewer choices for voters.

City Council needs to go back and remove these two items and finally adopt a reasonable code of conduct.

Is it really that hard?