This article describes the challenges of establishing ethical decision-making in local government organizations. As governments operate in the “Sunshine,” the intense public and media scrutiny requires policy action on ethics for both elected and appointed officials. The ethical dilemmas facing public service are discussed as a prelude to developing ethics guidelines that reflect doing business in the 1990's. The City of Largo ethics policy is presented as an approach that recognizes the importance of merging a well articulated organizational value system with specific guidelines for ethical conduct.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Society for Public Administration Code of Ethics and Implementation Guidelines, approved by National Council, April 8, 1984.
2.
Associated Press, St. Petersburg Times, February 11, 1989, 11B.
3.
BowmanJames S., Editor, Essentials of Management: Ethical Values, Attitudes, and Actions, Millwood, NY: Associated Faculty Press, 1983.
4.
BrownMarvin, Working Ethics: Strategies for Decision Making and Organizational Responsibility, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1991.
5.
Center for Applied Ethics (Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053), “What is Ethics?”Issues in Ethics, Volume 1, No. 1, (October, 1987).
6.
DobelT. Patrick, “Doing Good by Staying In”, in Combating Corruption/Encouraging Ethics — A Source Book for Public Service Ethics, RichterWilliam L.BurkeFrancis and @8pt note text-Doig, JamesonW., Edited By, Washington, D.C.: ASPA, 1990.
7.
“Does Honesty Matter?”, Best of Business Quarterly, 13(1), Spring 1991.
8.
“Ethics: Dictates and Dilemmas”, Public Management63 (March 1981).
9.
“Ethics”, Public Management66 (February 1984).
10.
“Ethics”, Public Management69 (August, 1987).
11.
FleishmanJoel L.LeibmanLanceMooreMark H., Editors, Public Duties: The Moral Obligations of Government Officials, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1987.
12.
FleishmanJoel L., “Self Interest and Political Integrity,” in Public Duties: The Moral Obligations of Government Officials, FleishmanJoel L.LeibmanLanceMooreMark H., Editors, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1987.
13.
FrenchPeter A., Ethics in Government, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1983.
14.
GaileyPhil, “Ethics and Arrogance of Integrity,”St. Petersburg Times, May 30, 1991, A3.
15.
GelmanDavid, “The Moral Minority,”Newsweek, Vol. 113, No. 18, May 6, 1991.
16.
GortnerHarold F., Ethics for Public Manager, New York: Praeger, 1991.
17.
HenniganPatrick T.MertinsHermanJr., Applying Professional Standards and Ethics in the 80's, Washington, D.C.: ASAP1982.
18.
ICMA Code of Ethics with Guidelines, as adopted by ICMA Executive Board in 1972.
19.
KellarElizabeth K., Editor, Ethical Insight/Ethical Action Perspectives for the Local Government Manager, Washington, D.C.: ICMA, 1988.
20.
KellarElizabeth K., Editor, The Ethics Factors, Washington, D.C.: ICMA, 1988.
21.
MachiavelliNiccolo, The Prince, New York: New American Library, 1952.
22.
NoceraJoseph, “The Decade That Got Out of Hand,”Best of Business Quarterly, 11(4), Winter 1989–1990.
23.
OwensJames, “Ethics: Age Old Ideal, Now Real,” in Essentials of Management: Ethical Values, Attitudes, and Actions, BowmanJames S., Editor, Millwood, NY: Associated Faculty Press, 1983.
24.
PetersThomasWatermanRobertJr., “Hands-on, Value Driven.”In Search of Excellence, 279–91. New York. Harper and Row, 1982.
25.
RichterWilliam L.BurkeFrancisDoigJameson W. — Edited by, Combating Corruption/Encouraging Ethics — A Source Book for Public Service Ethics, Washington, D.C.: ASAP, 1990.
26.
SteinbergSheldon S.AusternDavid T., Government, Ethics, and Mangers A Guide to Solving Ethical Dilemmas in the Public Sector, Westport, CT.: Quorum Books, 1990.
27.
ThompsonDennis F., “The Possibility of Administration Ethics,” in Ethical Insight/Ethical Action Perspectives for the Local Government Manager, KellarElizabeth K., Editor, Washington, D.C.: ICMA, 1988.
28.
YorkWillbern, “Types and Levels of Public Morality,” in Ethical Insight/Ethical Action Perspectives for the Local Government Manager, KellarElizabeth K., Editor, Washington, D.C.: ICMA, 1988.
