Tribune suggests a written code of ethics for the city council. Pins subsequently drop, and crickets chirp.

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One of this week’s Tribune “Jeers” is worth reprinting in its entirety.

TRIBUNE CHEERS & JEERS: March 25, 2009

JEERS

… again to New Albany Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti for not recusing herself at Thursday’s council meeting from voting on a development brought before the council by her brother. The councilwoman told audience members that she is not making a capital gain. (Note to self, check up on campaign contribution files in future elections.) That’s not the issue. As I’ve stated before in this space, a breach of ethics can be perceived and damage credibility even through association.

Ignore Dan Coffey’s claims that our claims of ethical conflicts are personal. He’s out of touch as usual.

Why is this important? Because New Albany government — specifically the council — has a reputation for being a mockery, anti-good ideas and generally lacking when coming to the idea of good government. Whether or not the reputation is deserved is another matter, but it does exist.

The council must do everything it can to show it’s a logical, rational and morally responsible group in order to have any chance at overcoming this reputation. I would say that a perceived ethical dilemma is a good place to start by taking the high road.

It still surprises me that very few people in elected positions seem to be publicly questioning this.

Again, I will state that I believe the council — or the county party leaders — should use this opportunity to put an ethics code in writing. It may not be binding, but we can ask all new candidates to sign it before running for office. City government ethics codes are not uncommon across the United States. But no one ever claimed that the New Albany City Council was common.

— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich

The key sentence is this one: “I would say that a perceived ethical dilemma is a good place to start by taking the high road.”

I spoke near the end of last week’s meeting, observing that to Google “conflict of interest” is to find as many examples of support for CM Benedetti’s position as there are instances of refutation, in the sense that not every ethical code applicable to her position cites the capital gain of a sibling as a possible source of conflict.

But it cannot be doubted that her stance represents the very lowest of common denominators, as Kozarovich recognizes. Apart from congenital dullards like the council’s Boner and Jethro, almost everyone in New Albany with a pulse recognizes the need for elevated standards, and yet Benedetti upholds the utility of the most minimal.

Congratulations to the Tribune for staying engaged with this story, and shame on those council members who remain rooted to the bottom rung on the ladder of achievement. Councilpersons surely can be taught new tricks … if they’re willing to learn.

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