The code states that the council will not tolorate discrimination or offensive behavior based on race, color or religion.
EASTHAMPTON — The City Council unanimously adopted a Code of Ethics Wednesday night that sets standards for professional conduct and civility among its members both in council chambers and in public.
A draft was submitted last month, but there were concerns raised about a phrase regarding a councilor’s personal life. Those concerns were addressed in the new version, but three councilors felt the new version went too far as well.
The new code states it applies “whenever a City Council member is in any public setting.”
Previously the language said it would apply “where the conduct or activity of a City Council member's personal life, as can be reasonably foreseen, becomes the subject of general public notice.”
Councilor Joy E. Winnie objected to the old and new clause and proposed removing it, but five counselors disagreed, so it remained.
The code stipulates:
“the city council requires an atmosphere of professional conduct and civility among its members and shall not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or offensive behavior based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation.”
The decision to create the code came following a remark in December by City Councilor Donald L. Cykowski. The code does not address that particular comment.
City Councilor Donald CykowskiThe City Council unanimously adopted a resolution in January condemning discrimination and intolerance in the wake of Cykowski's comment, "Where's a Puerto Rican when we need one?"
Cykowski apologized, but the remark drew criticism from the Springfield branch of the NAACP.
Cykowski also came under scrutiny this winter after renewed attention to allegations that he had harassed former library director Rebecca Plimpton for years before she left the position in 2007. Cykowski, a library corporator at the time, resigned from that board earlier this year. A group of residents in Easthampton are working to recall him.
He was not at Wednesday’s meeting because he was ill, according to council members.
“We need to remember we have an ethical obligation,” said Daniel D. Rist, rules committee chairman.
Earlier this month, the council met in executive session to talk about Cykowski. The council has no authority to remove a member and said that was up to the voters.
But five of the nine councilors signed this statement at the May 2 council meeting:
“In light of the documented racial comment made in December 2011, if the allegations of sexual harassment at the Williston Library are proven true, the undersigned councilors believe councilor Cykowski should consider resignation in the best interest of the City Council and the City of Easthampton."
Two councilors were absent and Cykowski and Councilor Chester A. Ogulewicz Jr. did not sign.