LEWISTON — A proposed ethics policy should remind city staff to not only avoid ethical problems but to be aware when their behavior could be misunderstood.

City councilors said the proposed ethics policy and proposed protections for city hall whistle-blowers both seemed reasonable. They should see the policy come back for a regular public meeting later this fall.

City Administrator Ed Barrett said the new policy should remind staffers to be careful about what they do, but also about what they appear to do.

“In particular, it’s important to avoid conflicts of interest, but also to avoid reasonable appearance of conflict of interest. I think sometime there is a gray line there, and I think it’s best to be careful. If it appears there’s a conflict, you might as well behave as if there really is one.”

The city currently uses the International City/County Management Association’s code of ethics, but federal grants have begun requiring cities to have their own policies in place.

The proposed policy 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.

Barrett said the city currently uses the state’s whistle-blower laws to protect city employees who report unethical behavior.

“But this basically sets out, in a lot more detail, that there is a no-retaliation policy,” Barrett said.

Councilors said the policy should draw a distinction between staff acting unethically and simply enforcing unpopular rules.

“If it keeps coming in again and again, it begins to feel like harassment,” Councilor Mark Cayer said.

Barrett said the new policy would include a summary explaining the kinds of reportable behavior.

“We need to make a distinction between complaints about unethical behavior and policy,” Barrett said.

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