By Daryl J. Delabbio
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. ~ Aristotle
I am pleased to report that there will be an ethics session as part of this year’s Summer Workshop in Frankenmuth. Ethics Committee Vice Chair Juan Ganum will moderate a panel discussion featuring two highly respected colleagues (Gregg Guetschow and Mark Wollenweber) who will be highlighting some ethical scenarios that managers and assistant managers face at one time or another during their careers. The session will also include opportunities for questions and answers. The MME is fortunate to have a wealth of resources to draw upon. Gregg and Mark have a collective 90+ years of experience and have contributed to our profession in innumerable ways. And Juan is no slouch either (with 25 years of experience)! I am sure this session, scheduled for Wednesday, July 27 at 1:30 p.m., will be a great one!
In addition, at the 2024 Winter Institute, Mike McGee, principal at Miller Canfield, will be delivering a presentation on ethics at a general session. Mike has spoken and written extensively on the topic, and he has a great sense of humor. “After all,” Mike said when I approached him to speak, “who better to talk about ethics than a lawyer and former politician?” More details will be forthcoming as that event nears.
The goal of the MME and the Ethics Committee is to ensure that ethics sessions are offered at both the Summer Workshop and Winter Institute. The importance of this training cannot be overstated. As public servants, who are entrusted with leading our communities, ethics training is essential. And of course, taking what is learned at these sessions and applying it to our daily activities—personal and professional—is even more critical.
Daryl J. Delabbio
Chair, Ethics Committee
Retired Municipal Manager
Daryl Delabbio spent 40 years in local government leadership. From September 1998 until his retirement in July 2017, he served as county administrator/controller for Kent County, Michigan. From September 1995 to September 1998 he was assistant county administrator. Prior to coming to Kent County, Daryl was city manager of Rockford, Michigan for 11 years, and held administrative positions with two other Michigan communities from 1977 to 1984. Throughout his career, Daryl also served as an adjunct faculty member in both graduate and undergraduate programs at Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, and Wayne State University. He holds a BA in political science and a Master of Management from Aquinas College, a Master of Public Administration from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. Daryl was active in numerous professional organizations, including the International City/County Management Association (executive board – midwest regional vice president, 2014-2017), the Michigan Municipal Executives (president, 2001), and the Michigan Association of County Administrative Officers (president, 2008-2010). Daryl can be reached at djdelabbio@gmail.com.