Ethics Discussion Group at Klein JCC

A City That Works - May 14, 2008

This citizen dialogue group was comprised primarily of senior citizens from Northeast Philadelphia. Many attendees were married couples who arrived at the event together. This moderator also had the pleasure of working with several of attendees at previous Great Expectation events. Accordingly, there was a familiarity with their lives, work experiences, and previous interactions with city government. The group offered well-reasoned and careful analysis.

Many members of this cohort had served as managers or employees of different departments for the City of Philadelphia. They were motivated to share their thoughts, vigorous in supporting their positions and related relevant life experiences. When weighing options, their thought processes reflected their lifelong learning and wisdom. -- Moderator Steven N. Pyser

What does this goal mean to you?

• Accountability.

• City employees to be educated in ethics with ability to apply it to everyday interactions with the public.

• Civic and city pride.

• Competency in government services provided to citizens.

• Contacting the city should yield same result of an efficient problem solver regardless of political connections.

• Deliver what is promised by vendors in city contracts.

• Honesty.

• Independent oversight of the business of government.

• Integrity.

• Ombudsman for citizen interactions regarding ethics.

• Proper performance of all terms under city contracts to be delivered.

• Qualifications and appropriate experience for the job.

• Respect for people's time.

• Transparency in all interactions with citizens of the City of Philadelphia.

Performance measures (What would success look like?):

• All members of city government (including elected, civil service, non-civil service) and vendors contracting with the City of Philadelphia will be governed by a Code of Ethical Conduct written in simple language that is accessible to all via the Internet and public distribution.

• Any city employee, elected official, vendor or citizen that reports ethical breach(es) shall be entitled to whistleblower protection.

• Individuals hired by the city (civil service and non-civil service) will be the most qualified with vetted qualifications, a best fit for the job requirements/description and possess skill sets that will enable her or him to deliver expected job performance.

• Performance of all employees of the city will be evaluated based on "real world” business standards and metrics informed by a representative sample of citizens.

• Interactions with the City of Philadelphia shall be governed by the same customer-relations standards applied for successful businesses, including follow-up calls by independent reviewers (not attached to the employee’s department) to determine if the problem was handled effectively and efficiently with an option --- if the citizen is dissatisfied -- to have the problem immediately remedied.

Customer-service standards:

• The City of Philadelphia shall create a customer-based program of delivering city services that is evaluated by an independent entity that isnot beholden to any particular city department and that reports directly to the mayor and managing director.

• City employees should be recognized for excellence service and receive incentives for exceptional work.

• The mayor shall release regular reports about final determinations of unethical conduct by city employees that reflect dispositions indicative of action and not indifference. These reports shall also be made available on the Internet and other readily accessible locations for public review.