City Council to Consider Ethics Regulations

In an attempt to address concerns about ethics problems in Cambridge's government, the liberal Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) last night asked the City Council to approve an order that would strengthen the city's ethical codes.

The four CCA-endorsed members who sit on the council introduced a three-pronged reform package, which was referred to the council's ordinance committee for further study.

The first proposal would establish a code of conduct for Cambridge officials intended to reduce conflicts of interest. The second would require developers to disclose information about those who profit from their investments, while the third would require elected officials to release information regarding their economic ties to the city.

CCA Vice-President Brian W. LeClair told the council that if passed, the proposals "will give the public a more specific base to have confidence in elected officials."

LeClair said in an interview that certain forms of behavior--such as loans from one public official to another--are currently considered politically unwise. But, "believe it or not, most of these kinds of things do not violate much of anything," he said.

The CCA's proposals come after reports this summer in The Boston Phoenix that City Councillor William H. Walsh was involved in business deals with other city officials, including the city clerk, the police chief and the deputy city solicitor.

Although such transactions are not illegal, CCA-backed Councillor Francis H. Duehay '55 criticized them at the time, saying that they created the "appearance" of impropriety.

In a letter to The Crimson this summer, Walsh made similar accusations about Duehay because he advised the Board of Zoning Appeal and the License Commission. Walsh called such activity "improper" because, as a council member, Duehay indirectly helps select board members.

Following remarks made by LeClair last night, Councillor Thomas W. Danehy raised concerns that CCA's proposals were aimed at specific members of the council.

"I don't want the television viewing audience to interpret this as some sort of indictment of this body," Danehy said. "I'm sure all of us here have conducted him or herself in a legal manner."

But LeClair said in an interview after the meeting that the ethics bill was not targeted at any particular council member.

Added Noah M. Berger '89, executive director of CCA, "It's not an indictment of any council member."

Several council members, including Walsh, expressed approval for the CCA, saying that state and national ethics scanbdals proved the need for such rules.

"I don't see why state officials should have to do this and local officials should not," said David E. Sullivan, a CCA-backed councillor.

And Walsh, who is seeking reelection as an Indepedent, said he "wholeheartedly endorses" the CCA proposals. He said he hoped that after adopting the rules, "accusations and innuendo can cease to be part of election-year schemes."

If approved, the rules would be broader than state law, LeClair said.

"I'm not aware of any municipality which has yet approved anything as broad as this," he said.

He added that other cities have passed ethics legislation, but not which are as far-reaching as CCA's proposal. Chicago, for example, adopted comprehensive reforms that "were so riddled with exemptions, that they applied only to the dog catcher," he said.

LeClair told the council that the Massachusetts Inspector General has endorsed the notion of local ethics legislation.

Although LeClair could not speculate on whether the council would approve the measures, he said, "In terms of pre-election announcements, I have not heard anyone speaking out against it. I hope that it retains its vigor and its teeth."

And, he added, "I'd like to set an example and to make it [the CCA proposal] a model to give people confidence in the function of city government."