by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
It has been more than six years since the City reviewed its Ethics Code. City Council member Art Shad said it may be time to make some changes.
Referencing the recent hirings of Kirk Wendland and Mike Weinstein by LandMar and TriLegacy, respectively, Shad said he wanted a “comprehensive review of (the City’s) current code.”
Wendland and Weinstein are both former executive directors of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission. Because both men had “played substantial roles with the City” to secure incentive packages for LandMar and TriLegacy, Shad said their working for those companies today presented a conflict of interest, if not an ethical lapse.
“I realize that what’s done is done, that we can’t go back,” Shad said, “but this is a very good time to look at making changes for the future.”
A possible policy change may call for City employees to have to wait at least three years after being terminated or resigning from the City before they can accept a position with a company they helped secure public dollars.
According to Shad’s bill, if a former City employee were to ignore that rule they could be fined up to $10,000.
“All I’m saying is if you were a key player in negotiating with a company on behalf of the City and then you turn around and take a job with that company shortly after, it doesn’t pass the smell test,” Shad said. “It’s not a good practice if you’re working with taxpayer dollars.”
Shad, who consulted with City attorney and ethics chief Steve Rohan to prepare the legislation, said he also may take a more proactive approach in working with the Ethics Commission if a Council majority decides that the Ethics Code needs revising.
“I’d be happy to work the Commission,” Shad said. “And I just want to clarify that I’m not trying to attack Kirk or Mike. They’re both upstanding individuals, but I just think this is the perfect opportunity to take a look at what can be done to prevent this from happening again.”