SUMMARY REPORT ON CITY OF ATLANTA BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING OF

2/18/2021

NATURE OF MEETING
This was a regular meeting scheduled and televised on Channel 26 in accordance with
the Board of Ethics Bylaws. Special meetings can also also be called as necessary.
This meeting was conducted remotely, due to Covid, as opposed to at City Hall where it
typically is held.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS
The Members of the Board of Ethics were in attendance. The Board is composed of
unpaid volunteers who serve for a 3 year term of office. Each is nominated by a public
interest group delineated in the bylaws and confirmed by the City Council. The 8
members of the Board of Ethics in attendance and the public interest groups who
nominated them were identified by name at the meeting. They were:
- Bing Wang, nominated by 7 major universities in Atlanta;
- Wesley Tharpe, nominated by Metro Atlanta Chamber of
Commerce;
- Gerry Neumark, nominated by the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board;
- Chris Gilmore, nominated by Gate City Bar Association;
- Lisa Liang, nominated by Atlanta Bar Association;
- Vic Hartman, nominated by Association of Certified Fraud
Examiners;
- Matt Grosvenor, nominated by Georgia Society of CPAs;
- Nicola Hines, Chair, nominated by the League of Women Voters
Fulton County.
CRITICAL GOVERNMENTAL PARTICIPANTS
The Inspector General, Shana Minigal, and Ethics officer, Jabu Sangova were also in
attendance.

TYPES OF DEMOCRACIES DEMONSTRATED

This is a clear example of representative democracy since nominated people are
representing groups of people. In this case, the people nominated are from key
SUMMARY REPORT ON CITY OF ATLANTA BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING OF
2/18/2021
non-profit organizations from the community which have an interest and/or expertise in
the ethical functioning of government.
GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN OVERSIGHT
The establishment of the Board of Ethics, the role of Ethics Officer, and the Integrity
Line where city employees and members of the community can anonymously call in
ethical concerns demonstrate a sincere effort by the City of Atlanta to police itself and
ensure ethical practices. Additionally, creating the Board of Ethics from among non-city
employees who are nominated by their independent organizations and confirmed by
elected members of Atlanta’s City Council, ensures independence in oversight. It is an
excellent system.
CONCEPTS ILLUSTRATED
The above illustrates Majoritarianism. Every City of Atlanta resident is a stakeholder in
ethical city government. The Board of Ethics, essentially the watchdog for each Atlanta
resident, is represented and served by this fair, transparent, and independent body.
Majoritarianism was on full display at the Board of Ethics meeting. They reviewed
Financial Disclosures, Enforcement Proceedings, Investigation of Ethics Matters,
Training on Ethics and Investigations, Integrity Line Reports -- all very much in the
interests of all.
This body demonstrates Conservatism because it promotes social order, morality, and
economic liberty. It also ensures equality in that everyone in government is held to the
same standard of ethics and that no one is entitled to operate without oversight and
transparency. It also ensures equality in that every city employee can make their
concerns heard - either through the Integrity Line or by an appearance at the regular
meeting.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
I was very impressed to learn about the Board of Ethics, how the members are
selected, their independence, and the wide scope of matters they are concerned with. I
think this is an excellent model of good governance and one from which every city could
benefit from.