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Council debates wording of annual code of conduct; several amendments proposed
Summary
Councilors discussed a proposed annual code of conduct that will be voted on later in January. Councilors agreed to refine language on cooperating after majority votes, treating colleagues and staff with civility, conflicts of interest wording and criteria for excused absences.
The Caribou City Council debated a proposed annual code of conduct on Jan. 13 and asked staff and council members to redraft specific language before a vote later this month.
The charter committee drafted the code to require the council to adopt a code each January that applies to the seated council. Councilors said they are generally comfortable with the document but proposed several edits to avoid vague or overbroad phrasing. “I do object to ‘cooperate in the implementation of,’ because that is very ambiguous,” Councilor Lovewell said, asking the council to reword the clause so it clearly applies to respecting and upholding majority decisions after a vote rather than compelling silence about prior dissent.
Other councilors suggested clarifying the provision that members not make commitments regarding how they will vote, and adding explicit references to treating city staff with civility and respect. One councilor asked that a new item be added to address conduct that ‘‘violates the public trust or brings discredit upon the city council’’ beyond impairment. Councilors noted this concept may already appear in the charter’s existing provisions and asked staff to check statutory or charter language—examples discussed included references to criminal conduct or “moral turpitude.”
Councilor Bagley offered to draft revised wording and circulate an amended draft by email so members could vote at the next meeting. The council did not vote on the code at the Jan. 13 meeting and agreed to finalize wording and the process for an annual signatory oath before the Jan. 31 deadline for adoption.
