ADP Board Approves Ethics Policy for IT Professionals
The Geauga County Automatic Data Processing board approved a policy on ethical vendor interactions for IT professionals at their regular meeting Dec. 10.
The Geauga County Automatic Data Processing board approved a policy on ethical vendor interactions for IT professionals at their regular meeting Dec. 10.
“This is something that we worked on internally, sort of in the wake of (former Water Resources Network Administrator) Mike Kurzinger pleading guilty for everything that went on with (the Geauga County Department of Water Resources),” Chief Deputy Administrator Frank Antenucci said.
Kurzinger’s office, as well as the office and home of Water Resources IT Vendor Joe Camino, were searched by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in May of 2023.
In July of 2023, a grand jury found Kurzinger “… did solicit or accept anything of value that is of such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the public official or employee with respect to that person’s duties,” on multiple occasions.
Kurzinger pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of conflict of interest in a public contract at an Oct. 9 hearing.
While it’s clear what the law says about IT professionals not accepting gifts, loans or televisions, there was clearly some confusion on that, Antenucci said, adding it’s important to have a policy governing those sorts of interactions.
“And because Geauga County does a lot with vendor support, whether it be ADP itself, sheriff IT, court IT, we’re all small entities that manage a lot,” he said. “So, we do utilize a lot of vendors, we have a lot of contracts with that and we thought it was prudent to have a second policy that basically, to some extent, codified the existing law out there, but made it very present for everyone and is something everyone can acknowledge and sign off on — basically agreeing that they won’t take loans or TVs or anything like that from vendors.”
Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder, chief administrator of the ADP board, noted those would be illegal acts, with or without the policy.
“This is kind of a redundant policy,” he said, a sentiment Antenucci agreed with.
Despite the redundancy, he emphasized the need for a lack of ambiguity.
“Ignorance of the law isn’t a defence, but in this case, it was used as an excuse,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said. “So, I think Frank’s trying to address that.”
The policy is brief and clear, Antenucci said.
The goal is for the board to approve it, Walder to sign it and then have all the IT professionals acknowledge it, he added.
A copy of the policy provided to the Geauga Maple Leaf said its purpose is to “…ensure ethical interactions between government IT professionals and vendors, safeguard public trust and maintain compliance with legal and ethical standards.”
IT professionals “…must uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality
in their interactions with vendors” and behavior creating “…a conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety is strictly prohibited,” it said.
Six main points outlined in a section on policy and procedure include prohibition of gifts and gratitudes, avoidance of conflicts of interest, independence in procurement, prohibition of free services, reporting obligations and applicable law preeminence.
Per the policy, IT professionals are banned from accepting gifts, including cash, gift cards, discounts, meals, entertainment, travel accommodation and hardware such as televisions, among a number of other gratuities. IT professionals must also disclose personal or financial relationships with vendors.
Gifts, services or favors from a vendor must be reported to a supervisor immediately.
Decisions regarding procurement, such as vendor selection or contract negotiations must be based on factors such as merit, cost-effectiveness and alignment with the agency’s goals, it said.
“Everybody needs to have access to it and review it,” Antenucci said. “We’ll probably do an annual thing.”
The ADP board approved the policy with no opposition.
