Councilmember proposes binding code of ethics; council forms drafting group

Council member Mister Eich asked the council during a work session to adopt a binding code of ethics for elected officials, saying violations erode public trust and community confidence. "When leaders violate the code of ethics, they betray that trust," he said, and proposed adapting a City of Chesapeake personnel document for council rules.

Council members debated whether the employee-focused CARES standards could serve as a baseline for elected officials or whether a tailored code is necessary. The city manager explained the CARES standards are the current employee expectations—courteousness, attentiveness, responsiveness, empowerment and stewardship—and said employees sign the standards as a condition of employment. "All employees sign the care standards, and we do evaluations based on care standards, rewards, and recognition based on care standards," the city manager said.

Members pressed for clarity about enforcement and thresholds for finding violations, discussing options such as censure or a majority council vote to determine whether a breach occurred. Several members suggested drawing on examples from James City County and other localities. Council members Newans and Ward volunteered to draft a proposed code and to convene a small committee for input; the council also asked staff to present the CARES standards at a future work session for comparison. Vice Mayor Deidre Kaye and others recommended soliciting input from the incoming council that takes office Jan. 1 to ensure the policy reflects the full body.

The council gave staff and the drafting volunteers a sense of direction to develop a proposed code for future discussion; no formal action to adopt a code was taken at the meeting.