Censures and Expulsions

>The ICMA's Code of Ethics has long been recognized as a model code for encouraging ethical behavior in the public management profession. Yet, year after year, the ICMA finds that some members cross over the line and must be censured and even expelled from their organization. As of September 2000, the ICMA reports that it had levied four public censures (with three members expelled) and four private censures.

>The three public censure and expulsion cases involved one member who used a city credit card for personal use and failed to reimburse the city until the abuse was detected. Another case involved a member who pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual battery of a minor while serving as a city administrator. The third case involved a member who pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase a controlled substance using a false prescription. The one public censure case that did not result in expulsion involved a member who failed to disclose his financial circumstance to a bank in relation to is employment agreement.

>The four private censure cases involved members who directed an employee to draft a petition for the recall of council members, who used the city's credit card for personal use even though the city policy prohibited such use, who ran for elected office while in office, and who asked a store employee to display a political sign in the storefront for the incumbent Mayor.

>Should ASPA engage in similar enforcement practices? Does the ASPA code of ethics provide sufficient enforcement guidelines for errant behaviors?