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Macomb County Passes Ethics Ordinance

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There has been a severance scandal rocking the County of Wayne recently, which makes it more important for the officials in Macomb County to pass an ethics ordinance in the month of November. The ethics ordinance will govern county employees and officials.

The ordinance was approved on November 10 by a vote of 12-1 by Macomb County commissioners. The passing of the ordinance makes Macomb County the first county in a tri-county region to use an ordinance that takes on problems such as gift acceptance, nepotism, and using county resources.

Fred Miller, the Macomb County Commissioner, chaired the committee that led the effort to create the ordinance. Miller said that he does not want to bash those in Wayne County but did recognize the fact that the scandal had in advancing his county’s ordinance.

“What’s going on there has certainly brought an urgency to it,” he said, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Kathy Vosburg, the Commission Chairwoman, claims that the ordinance is a break away from what occurred in Wayne County. In Wayne County, the scandal involves a $200,00 severance pay for Turkia Awada Mullin. The severance pay created an investigation by the FBI, multiple dismissals, and left the Ficano administration reeling beyond belief. Mullin was the former economic development director for the county, who left to take the CEO position with the Detroit Metro Airport before being let go as a result of the scandal.

The new ordinance allows up to a $500 fine for those who break the rules of the ordinance. There are exceptions for some judges and assistant prosecutors because of the state rules that overrule county ordinances. Anthony Marrocca, the Public Works Commissioner, sent a letter to the commissioners that he is covered by a rule in state law that deals with conflicts of interest with drain commissioners.

Miller went on to say that the intent of the ordinance is to create a code of conduct that is to be followed by all those employed by the county.

“It’s just one more step toward ensuring transparency and accountability,” Miller said.

A charter approved by voters this year included the ordinance for Macomb County, which helped to create the county executive position. The area of the ordinance that deals with ethics preceded the excerpt that covered the executive position.

The ordinance for ethics also creates a five person ethics board that will enforce the provisions of the ordinance. The county executive will nominate the board members and the nominations will have to be approved by the county’s commissioners.

Mark Hackel, the County Executive, said that he plans to have his nominations ready by the end of the year. Hackle went on to say that he has some people in mind but declined to name who they were. Hackle described those people as “nonpolitical, extremely professional and well-credentialed. I think the public is going to be very supportive of these individuals.”

Macomb County Passes Ethics Ordinance by
Authored by: Harrison Barnes