Upcoming Key Dates Efiling Day                                    in the Atrium                 2/08/2007 2007 Financial                 Disclosure Statement                    Filing Deadline              2/15/2007

Ethics Complaints Allege Improper Use of City Property The Ethics Office has received two formal ethics complaints this month alleging that city officials and employees have used city property for their own personal use.  Both complaints are based on investigative reports by the Law Department.   The first complaint alleges that the former head of general services and a city council member have held rent-free galas, weddings, and parties on city property, using city services, without paying for their use.  The second complaint alleges that the chief operating officer, chief of staff, and former office manager have made personal charges on city credit cards that incurred late fees and penalties.    In its first formal advisory opinion after the Code of Ethics was revised in 2002, the Board of Ethics determined that city officials were not entitled to a reduction or waiver of a rental fee for the personal use of city property or for its use by any other person or entity on terms that are not available to the general public.   Subsequently, the board was asked to define what is considered “official city business,” which would entitle a city official to use a city facility without paying the rental fee customarily charged to the public.  The board set out a general definition that city officials and employees are conducting official city business when they act in an official capacity and perform official duties on behalf of the city.    The Ethics Office will conduct an investigation of the complaints and report to the board on its findings and recommendations.  The investigations are expected to take 60 to 90 days.    To read the full text of opinions 2003-1 on the waiver of rental fees and 2004-1 on official city business, visit the Board’s Advisory Opinions webpage. (top)

Ask the Ethics Officer:  May I Attend a Local Seminar Hosted by a City Vendor? I have been invited to attend a local seminar after work that is being hosted by a potential city vendor for local, state, and federal employees.  There is no charge to attend the event, and food and beverages will be provided.  May I attend?   You may attend the event since it is open to other members of the public, and you may accept the food because it is furnished in connection with your appearance in an official capacity at a seminar, convention, or conference.       One of the exceptions to the ban on gratuities permits city employees and officials to accept “reasonable meals or refreshments” furnished when they attend a “public, civic, charitable, or non-profit ceremony, event, convention, or conference” in their official capacity, whether or not the sponsor of the event does business with the city.  There is no requirement to disclose the gift of the meal under this exception because the public nature of the event serves as the notice or disclosure.  Send your questions to ethicsofficer@atlantaga.gov. (top)

A Matter of Fact -- Employees and Officials Filing Earlier in 2007 764 persons filed their 2007 City Financial Disclosure Statement by January 31, 2007 383 persons filed their 2006 City Financial Disclosure Statement by  January 31,  2006 335 persons filed their 2005 City Financial Disclosure Statement by January 1, 2005 (top)