City Council creates committee to develop ethics commission for Muncie government

David Penticuff, Muncie Star Press
·3 min read

MUNCIE, Ind. − City Council took an initial step Monday toward establishing a ethics commission to provide oversight and guidance for city government and conduct of its employees.

Council adopted a resolution creating a nine-member ethics advisory committee of people from outside local government to explore the creation of a commission.

Council President Jeff Robinson said such a commission has long been discussed and needed.

Muncie City Council members listen to members of the public speak Monday prior to considering a resolution to create an ethics advisory committee for development of a city ethics commission.
Muncie City Council members listen to members of the public speak Monday prior to considering a resolution to create an ethics advisory committee for development of a city ethics commission.

"I'm from Muncie. As long as I can remember it has been, gosh, what's our nickname, 'Little Chicago.' And it's not because of the railroad," Robinson said during a lengthy council discussion of the proposal, which was offered by Robinson.

Robinson's proposal aims to place people with backgrounds in government and ethics on the advisory committee to study the need for a commission and and how such a body should be organized as well as develop a code of ethics for Muncie government.

A code would govern public conduct and actions of elected officials, appointees to boards and commissions, employees, and individuals and entities that have a business relationship with the City of Muncie.

The Code, Robinson said in a statement prior to the meeting, would set forth specific standards governing:

  • nepotism

  • protection

  • gifts, food, drink, entertainment and travel expenses

  • disclosure requirements for entities that do business with the City of Muncie

  • and other standards to be defined by the ethics advisory committee

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As passed Monday, the advisory committee will consist of two professionals in human resources; a certified public accountant; two attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Indiana; a representative of the Ball State University Bowen Center for Public Affairs; an ethics professor from Ball State University Department of Philosophy; and two Muncie citizens.

Council members expanded the proposed number of advisory members from seven to nine and also amended the resolution to provide that no more than five of the members be from the same political party.

The committee will be responsible for establishing standards and guardrails, defining composition, terms, method of appointment, power and authority, and jurisdiction of a City of Muncie ethics commission, according to Robinson.

Council Member Ro Selvey questioned the need to establish a committee to do the work of researching and developing a commission when it could be assigned to the council's attorney to draw up the rules for such a commission and present it to the council for action.

"There is just a lot that is loosely defined around this issue," said Council Member Isaac Miller. "... I think it's wise maybe if we take a step back before we go all in on this."

He also suggested letting attorneys study the matter to see what they could develop.

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Robinson responded that it was important to have local experts in ethics and human resources, who are Muncie citizens, develop the commission rather attorneys, who are paid by the city and are part of the government apparatus that would fall under the authority of a the commission.

In the end, the council voted 8-1 to approve the resolution for the advisory committee, with Miller voting no.

Robinson, who is a Democratic candidate for mayor this year, said he deliberately placed an 18-month deadline for advisory committee to do its work, knowing they would be reporting back to a different city council after the municipal election.

He told The Star Press Tuesday that he was hopeful candidates for office in Muncie would get behind the idea of the ethics commission and support its development.

Robinson said he was pleased the discussion at the council meeting was bipartisan in an election year. The council will now be searching for potential candidates for the advisory committee, with appointments expected to discussed at the May council meeting.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: City Council creates committee to study ethics commission for Muncie