By James Wickman, ICMA-CM
At its September 21 meeting, the ICMA Executive Board voted to publicly censure Brian Kischnick, former city manager of Troy, and permanently bar him from membership in ICMA. This action was recommended by the ICMA Committee on Professional Conduct following a review process that engaged a fact-finding committee appointed by MME President Patrick Sullivan.
Kischnick pled no-contest to a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. Based on information made available as part of the fact-finding process, Kischnick was involved in a personal relationship with the victim, who was employed by the city. Kischnick had an affirmative duty to comply with the law in both his professional and personal lives in order to maintain public confidence in the position and profession. This conduct violated Tenets 3 and 12 of the ICMA Code of Ethics.
Each ICMA and MME member agrees to abide by the Code and its enforcement when becoming a member. Any member who appears to have violated the Code is investigated through a peer-review process and violators are subject to an array of sanctions including private and public censure, membership suspension, and/or membership bar or expulsion.
Members are encouraged to read the ICMA Code of Ethics and Guidelines. As a member benefit, ICMA provides confidential advice to members who may be uncertain of their ethical obligation or who need guidance to resolve an ethical dilemma. Contact Martha Perego, director of member services and ethics at ICMA, 202-962-3668 or mperego@icma.org. Ethics advice, information, and the ICMA Code of Ethics are also available online at www.icma.org/ethics.
The MME Ethics Committee can also be a resource to you, if you are not an ICMA member. Let us know if you have any questions. We are always happy to help our colleagues understand the importance of professional conduct and how to promote it.
James Wickman, ICMA-CM
Township Manager, Hartland Township
Chair, MME Ethics Committee
James Wickman has been the Hartland Township Manager since 2007, and was previously Village Manager of Mayville. He started his professional career as a police officer with Pittsfield Township. You may reach him at 810-632-7498 or jwickman@hartlandtwp.com.