City Ethics Officer Discusses Efforts To Increase Transparency

Abel Harding

During a recent meeting, Carla Miller---the Ethics Officer for the City of Jacksonville---discussed a number of topics, including her most pressing matter---the struggle to ensure her office has a budget in the next fiscal year.  Last year's fight over her budget surprised Miller and she's prepared to go to the mat once again this year to make the case for why Jacksonville needs an Ethics Officer and an Ethics Department.

Miller spoke at length of her goal in ensuring that Jacksonville moves beyond a paper ethics program, instead working to bring transparency and fight corruption.  One of the topics discussed was a recent criticism by myself in a JaxPoliticsOnline.com article that drew attention to the removal of Section 602.703 of the City's Ordinance Code.  In that article, I asked the question as to why gifts in excess of $100 were no longer reported locally.  (Some city employees and appointees are still subject to state reporting requirements.)  Ms. Miller explained the reasoning behind the repeal:

Gifts to city employees and officials from lobbyists and those doing business with the city are PROHIBITED over $100. The Gift Disclosure was a required form that some employees had to fill out for all gifts over $100 from non-relatives.  You would not list a gift of $150 from a lobbyist on the form, as that would be illegal. So, in reality, only a few forms came in every year and most of them declared insignificant gifts. The real situation was gifts coming in to the "City" in excess of  $100; which can be done. Then, these gifts were given by the city to the city official/employee. (Under our laws, a gift from "the city" to an employee is not defined as a "gift".   The Ethics Commission proposed a law (which passed) that all gifts to the "city" be posted on line, and who ultimately received them.

This is an example of eliminating a useless law that might sound good; and instead putting in one that actually provides more transparency.

And, the gifts have been posted online.  They can be found on the city's website.  The report for July includes gifts ranging from a $250 United Way gift basket to an employee in the Adult Services Division to a $1,500 donation to JFRD from the Rotary Club of North Jacksonville.

Miller's actions in revising the law are in keeping with her long-running campaign to change the culture of City Hall, opting for what she calls "true transparency," as opposed to a window dressing of ethics that can be created by numerous disclosure forms.

"Education," Miller emphasized repeatedly "is the key.  The City needs to do a better job of educating its citizens."  Nearly half of the complaints her office receives, Miller said, are simply a matter of not understanding the law and/or the process.  She envisions an online or in-person education program for citizen involvement, where voters learn how they can engage City Hall.

Miller plans to continue her fight to bring greater transparency to the procurement process.  She'd like to see the City track how many times the procurement is waived to award sole-source contracts.  Currently, sole-source contracts are posted for 7 days and then removed.  Miller says that she would like to see them stay up.  Furthermore, she'd like Duval residents to be able to see a copy of the contract with a click of their mouse.  She believes the city should require all contracts and bids to be made in electronic form, something that would simplify the process for city employees to post them online.  To Miller, the issue---once again---is transparency.  The more information available to voters, the more engaged voters will feel in the process.

Interestingly enough, according to a recent National Government Ethics Study, overtly illegal misconduct on the part of public officials and employees is on the decline.  Abuses of public positions and conflicts of interests; however, are on the rise.  Miller believes that this reality is the exact reason why Jacksonville needs to retain its Ethics Officer position.  In fact, she would like to see the position take on a more independent role, reporting directly to the Ethics Commission, instead of the Mayor or the City Council.  She believes that, along with a dedicated funding source, would strengthen the role of the Ethics Officer and Commission for years to come.

Jacksonville has certainly had its struggles with corruption in local government over the years.  A strong culture of ethics---always doing what is in the best interest of the public---is the foundation upon which future voter trust can be built.  Now is not the time to weaken the office or cut funding.  If anything, the City Council, and the Charter Review Commission, should be moving to strengthen the role of Ms. Miller and the Commission.

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Tags: Carl Miller, Charter Review Commission, City of Jacksonville Ethics Department, Duval County, Duval County Charter Review Commission, Jacksonville Ethics Commission, Local Politics

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 11:40 AM and is filed under Local Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.