Allentown committee begins drafting council code of conduct, debates public-comment rules

Allentown City’s Rules, Intergovernmental Relations and Strategy Committee discussed a draft code of conduct and related standard operating procedures at a recent committee meeting, focusing on how council members and members of the public should interact during committee and council meetings.

Committee Chair President Hendricks opened the meeting and identified council members on the committee, saying the evening’s work would include “discussions on drafting the components of a good code of conduct and standard operating procedures.”

Councilwoman Mota, who presented background on the draft, said the goal is to “create some guide rail for our meeting for ourselves and the administration and the public. The end goal I have in mind is to create an efficient and effective decision making process that end with productive results.” Mota said the clerk posted version 3 of the draft on the city agenda website and asked committee members for feedback.

Why it matters: The committee’s work would set behavioral expectations for elected officials and the public, clarify how public comment periods…