BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

Atlantic County government has introduced the first two ordinances of a new Government Integrity agenda designed to increase government accountability, promote the highest standards of integrity and encourage greater citizen participation.

The idea for a Government Integrity agenda was initiated by County Executive Dennis Levinson in January, 2007. The agenda will formalize and codify into law many practices that have been standard operating procedures in county government but were not previously mandated by county ordinance. 



The first two ordinances were introduced to the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders on April 3, 2007. 



The first ordinance requires public integrity training for all county management employees, including elected officials. The second ordinance establishes an open application process and public directory for appointed volunteer county positions. 



"Our goal is to strengthen public confidence in county government. By working together we can ensure that Atlantic County is at the forefront of all counties throughout the state in matters of government integrity and public participation," stated Levinson. "This initiative formalizes many of our existing policies and guarantees their continuity." 



The public integrity training will include mandatory courses in areas related to government ethics and human resource training. It will serve to reinforce and strengthen existing training provided to key managers.



Citizen participation in county government will be strengthened with open appointments to volunteer positions on county boards, commission and authorities. There are currently 16 such agencies for which residents may be appointed to voluntarily serve. The ordinance will ensure that a register of these positions and current vacanies are available on the county Web site (www.aclink.org) and the County Office Building in Atlantic City in addition to posting vacancies at the Board of Freeholder's Office in Northfield.



The county is assisted in its efforts by the Center for Civic Responsibility, chaired by Harry Pozycki and the organization's Atlantic County chapter, chaired by Alan Kligerman. 



Levinson noted that additional ordinances will be forthcoming in the months ahead. "We hope to have among them a very comprehensive ordinance on Public Contracting Reform (Pay to Play) that will include prohibitions on wheeling." 



Wheeling is the practice of transferring money between political organizations to get around campaign funding laws. 



The first two ordinances must now receive the advice and consent of the Board of Freeholders. 



For more information, please contact Howard J. Kyle, Chief of Staff, at (609) 343-2368.