People like Yuri Rashkin and Frank Perrotto have no business being involved in politics after what they pulled. There's something called "duty" which most feel doesn't apply to them. Plus, the time to implement an ethics policy isn't after these politicians abuse their positions! It should've been done long ago so bonehead things like these "males" (notice I didn't call them MEN??) don't happen in the first place because they would've been held accountable!

Would an ethics policy state that in a case such as Brunner's when he said he was going to resign...he would actually be held to do it?

If that is the case...I say, go for it.

I like Sigma40's post. A policy sounds good, but who will be the "ethics police" and might that serve to emasculate an elected official who attempts to change the status quo -- a much needed endeavor? A previous city council member witnessed and knowingly participated in activities that are not allowed by city ordinances. That's the kind of thing an ethics policy should focus on.
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Also, I don't think the current Council knows very much about the ordinances that are in place now. They should focus on reading what's already on the books and fix the BS that's contained therein.

This doesn't really do anything about so-called "corruption" -- most of that is thoroughly covered by state law on conflicts of interest:
http://www.lwm-info.org/index.asp?Type=B...
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I suppose this might do something about council civility, but I would not have characterized it as a great problem before now. There are occasional incidences of tension, but we don't have people throwing shoes at each other or getting obscenities broadcast over JATV. So I do want to hear more about what Brunner thinks he's trying to solve.
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Frankly, it seems like a distraction from the really important issues facing the city right now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Nielsen report that Brunner refused to list specific examples as to why this "initiative" is necessary? I wonder why both you and Nielsen are doing that for him? While the examples you and Nielsen list did indeed occur, I can't seem to understand why you both think it's appropriate to list examples that YOU feel stand out.
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It just bothers me that these adults just can not get along and need to have something drawn up to force them to play nice. It is just like the ridulous warning labels on goods that we purchase (ie: contents may be hot, do not use iron while wearing clothes, do not put toaster in water). You get my point--really these things just should be common sense. They really put the meaning to book smart and not common sense smart.

An ethics policy without sanctions? Like a car plant without cars. What's the point?

An open and honest exchange of opinions at a public meeting seems refreshingly cogent to me. Why limit our freedom of speech when we just spent lengthy hours advancing the concealed carry law? Our liberties do not need curtailment. American freedoms have often come to us with the cost of some social conflict. We need to elect officials to the council who will protect our rights as citizens. It takes real courage to run an open and honest city government, maybe REAL ethics is a part of that!

So they want a policy that bans people from being honest and straight forward? Sounds like a typical Janesville thing to me. Dont forget we live in one of the biggest sugar coated double standard cities in the country.

yes we need one, needed it long ago

I think the ethics policy needs to start with our highest elected officials, and be adopted to the local governments too.
I needs to start at the top.
Good call George.

I didn't vote for half of them that were up last time.

Yes we do need ethics policy. People like Yuri are proof policies and guidelines are needed.

Its a sad state of affairs when our city council needs to be reminded that such behavior is unacceptable. But hey...you voted for them. You get what you deserve.

"It bans use of cell phones during meetings."
Duh is this different than other businesss meeting? sounds like grade school to me.
Especially the Yuri putting what Perotto said online. I agree he shouldn't have gotten up and left. You don't have to agree but you shouldn't be rude either!