New township ethics code is in the works Personnel director will serve as ethics officer at no extra cost BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - Interim Mayor and state Sen. Joseph Vitale signed an executive order appointing Marianne Horta as the township's ethics liaison officer recently. The executive order is part of Vitale's broad reform agenda for the township that he unveiled on Aug. 15. "We want to make sure that people know the rules and are aware of what the correct procedures are when serving their municipality," said Vitale, who was joined by Citizens' Campaign Chairman Harry Pozycki and Paula Franzese, chairwoman of the State Ethics Commission last week. "Hopefully, we can begin to set an example to other municipalities, counties and also at the state level," he said. The township's executive branch code of ethics has not been revised since 1974. "That was 32 years ago and it has not been built upon," said Vitale. "The code of ethics are very basic." The township's 800 employees will read and sign the executive order. "It is necessary for a process to be instituted, which ensures that employees are regularly and consistently updated in the critical and ever-evolving area of governmental ethics," said Vitale. "Providing employees with standards and training will bolster public confidence and help employees avoid unintended ethical dilemmas." Franzese, who is also a Peter W. Rodino professor of law at Seton Hall University School of Law, said that it was a terrific day for Woodbridge. "Woodbridge Township is sending the most significant statement of hope," said Franzese. "And it shows the townships who are struggling that they can do this. I'm happy to be a witness to all of this." Horta will be responsible for the development and implementation of a training program to be presented to all new employees upon their hiring; to members of all municipal boards, agencies or commissions, and all employees in the administrative and judicial branches of municipal government. "The department heads who consist of four to five directors and 15 to 20 division heads will go through annual training," said Horta. "They consist of the mayor, business administrator, Planning and Zoning Board members and so on. They will then relay what they have learned to the rest of the employees." Horta will implement an ethics code for employees and public officials of the administrative branch of municipal government; a code of business ethics for all providers of goods and services; and will be the contact person for all questions from the public, employees and public officials. Horta has served as the township's personnel director for five years. She will take on the ethics officer position without any additional pay. "I have taken ethics certification credits in governmental ethics from the Professional Development Institute," said Horta. Franzese said there are two types of ethical principles, which she compared to the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch from "The Wizard of Oz." One (Glinda, the Good Witch of the North) is the public servant who acts in good faith and didn't realize that he or she violated the law, she said The other (Miss Gulch, the Wicked Witch of the West) is the public servant who acts in bad faith and is determined to betray the public trust, Franzese said. "This start shows great promise," she said. "It starts from the state level ethics reform and the message needs to be sent." The principles of ethical conduct include: +Employees may not use their position to secure a job contract. +Employees may not accept any other compensation for performing their job. +Employees may not accept any gift of more than nominal value (e.g., a T-shirt or pen) from anyone with whom the township conducts business. +Employees may not "wine or dine" with people with whom their agency conducts business. Employees may not accept honoraria. Officials' travel reimbursements require prior approval from their department head. +Employees may not act in any matter in which they, their family, or their close friends have a direct or indirect personal or financial interest that might tend to conflict with proper discharge of their official duties. +Employees may not accept employment or engage in any activity that may require them to disclose confidential information acquired through their position. +After employees leave their positions, they may not represent or assist a person concerning a particular matter if they were substantially and directly involved in that particular matter while in their position with the township. +If a situation occurs or if any employees are unsure of the rules, they should ask the ethics officer. If any employees suspect any wrongdoing, they can report the situation anonymously to Horta.