LEWISTON — A proposed new ethics policy shouldn’t change anything at City Hall, Administrator Ed Barrett said.
Barrett said the city currently uses the International City/County Management Association’s code of ethics to make sure contracts are assigned fairly, decisions are made impartially and City Hall positions are not used unethically.
“But we think it’s good to have a written policy in place,” Barrett said. “There is no big thing that’s requiring this, but there are federal grants that are starting to require that municipalities have their own ethics policies. So that’s part of the consideration, too.”
The discussion is scheduled for the City Council’s 6 p.m. workshop meeting in Lewiston City Hall. A regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The proposed policy is included in the City Council’s agenda packet, which is available for download off of the city’s website, www.ci.lewiston.me.us.
It keeps employees from allowing special interests from influencing city decisions, divulging private information, accepting gifts designed to influence decisions, misusing city property or using their position to further their political career.
The policy also includes new protections for people that report ethics violations.
“We’ve followed the state laws in that respect,” Barrett said. “This just sets it out much more clearly on how, if they see something that concerns them, they can report it and make sure it will be looked at.”
Comments are no longer available on this story