Mixing Romance and Housing in Tampa                     March 2002

There is discussion in Tampa, Florida, to forbid managers from having
romantic relationships with employees they supervise. It seems that the
city housing chief has had a romantic relationship with his top aid who has
moved rapidly through city ranks. Moreover, it seems as if the housing
chief and aid are building a 4,200 square foot home for a bargain basement
price of $120,000. The builder has received more than $1 million in housing
contracts through the city's housing department.

City Council member Bob Buckhorn says that "our 4,500 employees need to
know that the promotional process is based on merit." Moreover, Buckhorn
believes that there should be a policy aimed at city employees who award
large contracts to people with whom they do personal business. "City
employees should have to disclose such potential conflicts to the public,"
Buckhorn contends.

Do you think there should be a city policy that forbids managers from having affairs with employees they supervise? Should city employees who award large contracts to people with whom they do personal business be required to disclose this information? Would such policies prevent unethical if not illegal practices?
 

Sources: Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, Bob Buckhorn www.bobbuckhorn.com