Sometimes a proposal, a statement or even the wording of a code can hit a raw nerve.
That’s what seemingly occurred at the Dec. 4 Ocean Pines Association work session when Director Terri Mohr gave colleagues background material for a motion to reinstitute an OPA code of conduct at the upcoming Dec. 18 meeting.
Director Jack Collins repeatedly requested an explanation what problem could have possibly led Mohr to introduce to reinstate a code of conduct.
Our question is why not have a code of conduct? Doesn’t it seem possible that many successful businesses, bureaucracies, governments and other organizations have codes of conduct and rules of ethics that act as an organization’s conscience or backbone?
Also, codes of conduct should not be about going after any one official. Indeed, these codes are important for the working culture of any successful organization. We are surprised, quite frankly, that the Ocean Pines Association operates without these codes. It’s to us like an anchorless boat not to have codes of conduct.
As one resident said during the recent work session, codes “can be a good thing, unless they are abused, then they are `wretchedly awful things.’”
That’s why we have these codes, so that abuse doesn’t happen, and if it unfortunately does occur, a consequence is in place. It doesn’t make OPA any less of a trusted organization at all. It’s the complete opposite, demonstrating that OPA’s elected officials are transparent and are held to a higher bar of accountability.
OPA should have nothing to hide. If anything, we applaud the idea and hope that other jurisdictions see OPA as a model of open, trustworthy government.
Perhaps with a code of conduct in place, the raw nerve will heal that much faster.
That’s what seemingly occurred at the Dec. 4 Ocean Pines Association work session when Director Terri Mohr gave colleagues background material for a motion to reinstitute an OPA code of conduct at the upcoming Dec. 18 meeting.
Director Jack Collins repeatedly requested an explanation what problem could have possibly led Mohr to introduce to reinstate a code of conduct.
Our question is why not have a code of conduct? Doesn’t it seem possible that many successful businesses, bureaucracies, governments and other organizations have codes of conduct and rules of ethics that act as an organization’s conscience or backbone?
Also, codes of conduct should not be about going after any one official. Indeed, these codes are important for the working culture of any successful organization. We are surprised, quite frankly, that the Ocean Pines Association operates without these codes. It’s to us like an anchorless boat not to have codes of conduct.
As one resident said during the recent work session, codes “can be a good thing, unless they are abused, then they are `wretchedly awful things.’”
That’s why we have these codes, so that abuse doesn’t happen, and if it unfortunately does occur, a consequence is in place. It doesn’t make OPA any less of a trusted organization at all. It’s the complete opposite, demonstrating that OPA’s elected officials are transparent and are held to a higher bar of accountability.
OPA should have nothing to hide. If anything, we applaud the idea and hope that other jurisdictions see OPA as a model of open, trustworthy government.
Perhaps with a code of conduct in place, the raw nerve will heal that much faster.