By Oliver Turner
As members of the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME), we understand that our actions as local government professionals not only have the power to shape the reputation of our communities, but also shape the reputation of the Michigan Municipal Executives as an organization, and the field of professional management, generally.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, the MME Board of Directors, Ethics Committee, and the Michigan Municipal League invested significant time in developing and implementing a process through which applications for new membership in MME are reviewed by the Ethics Committee and, if needed, by the MME President or the MME Board of Directors.
Specifically, individuals seeking to join MME now complete a new membership application on www.mme.org. Once completed, the application is forwarded to the chair of the Ethics Committee and the MML liaison to MME. The chair of the Ethics Committee then forwards the new membership application to the full Ethics Committee for review and consideration.
If there are no concerns raised regarding an applicant, the membership application is approved and processed. If ethical concerns are raised regarding an applicant, the Ethics Committee will review further and, if warranted, forward a recommendation regarding the matter to the MME president for disposition by either the MME president or MME Board of Directors.
Following any approval, the MML will finalize membership applications and accept a payment of dues. The MML will also email the applicant to confirm their admission, and copy the MME president as well as the chairs of each of the MME committees on this acknowledgement. This allows each committee to welcome new members within the scope of their functions.
As the MME membership application explicitly states that members of MME will abide by the ICMA Code of Ethics, the process has been used to hold discussions with new members regarding specific tenets of the ICMA Code of Ethics, and its importance to the field of professional administration.
Additionally, this process has successfully prevented likely or possible violations of the ICMA Code of Ethics. For example, the process has identified situations in which new members (who are serving as appointed officials) would have been admitted while they were simultaneously serving as an elected official.
In addition to ensuring that new members of MME are aware of and ready to abide by the ICMA Code of Ethics, the review process also represents an excellent opportunity to connect new members of MME with peers and mentors within their region. These connections are beneficial, especially when they emphasize the ICMA Code of Ethics and cultivate a support system that may help to mitigate breaches of the ICMA Code of Ethics.
Oliver Turner
City Manager, Sault Ste. Marie
Chair, MME Ethics Committee
Oliver Turner began his employment as Sault Ste. Marie City Manager in June 2014. He has previously served as the Village Manager for the Village of Almont, MIchigan and has obtained additional local government experience with the City of Perrysburg, Ohio and retail management experience with BP Oil. Turner currently serves on the Michigan Local Government Management Association Board of Directors and is an active member of the International City/County Management Association and the Michigan Municipal League. You may contact him at oturner@saultcity.com.