A New Year's "Resolution" for Geneva City Council

Whereas Geneva City Council should operate according to the NYS Laws governing Open Meetings, Freedom of Information, and general protocol for professional, ethical, and inclusive government operations (read those laws here or in the Document Library); and,

Whereas the Geneva City Council members should conduct themselves according to generally accepted standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability; and,

Whereas the Geneva City Council prior to January 1st 2008 routinely and consistently fell short of these stated expectations;

Now, therefore be it resolved, by the residents of the City of Geneva, that the Geneva City Council will be expected to:

Firstly, eliminate all ‘executive session’ meetings unless expressly authorized and narrowly limited to items contained in the NYS Open Meetings Laws, which are the following:

• particular personnel items leading to the suspension, demotion, or removal of a specific employee
• matters that would imperil public safety if disclosed or hinder law enforcement efforts if discussed publicly
• strategies for pursuing or defending against real (as opposed to ‘potential’) litigation
• sale of city property only when the public discussion of said parcel will negatively effect the value (see this Advisory Opinion for more details);
  

Secondly, that City Council will conduct itself collectively, and Councilors individually, in accordance with commonly accepted standards of professionalism and decorum. This means that colleagues, staff, and the public will be treated with courtesy and respect. While disagreement, constructive criticism, and dialogue are expected and encouraged, all statements should focus on the public actions and record of the individuals in question, not merely on personality or comments meant to degrade or humiliate.

Thirdly, that City Councilors and all management staff will file financial disclosure forms, to be made available for public review, indicating any and all personal or familial financial interest, past, present, or pending, in city projects or with individuals or corporations seeking contracts or services with the city government or any of its cooperative agencies (such as the Geneva IDA, Geneva Growth, Jobs for Geneva, Revolving Loan Fund, Geneva Transportation Corporation, etc.).

Lastly, that City Council will operate as a body of the whole unless specific committee membership is publicly announced and assigned and said committee meetings are made open to the public according to the above summarized open meetings law. This means that city councilors will not meet with staff in ‘small groups’, will not attend lunches or dinners with city staff, developers, or other persons seeking to obtain contracts or services within the city or with the aforementioned cooperative agencies, and all official correspondence on the city e-mail system will be conducted between council as a whole, with full acknowledgment of the legal requirements of the Freedom of Information Law.

Therefore be it further resolved that in addition to these standards of City Council operation, the City Councilors and Mayor publicly recognize their status as role models within the community and adhere fully and completely to all laws, codes, and other regulations governing citizens of Geneva, NY. Public disclosure of violations should be made publicly at a regular, televised meeting of the Geneva City Council, with an explanation provided to the residents of the City.

And we so move.