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MEGAN SCOTTConcerned about the tenor of some meetings, a retired philosophy professor drafts conduct guidelines to encourage respect.
Ron Barnette was concerned with what was happening at some of the commission meetings.
The rolling of the eyes. Cutting each other off. Sighing as the clock ticked.
So, Barnette felt compelled to get involved.
The 61-year-old retired philosophy professor drafted a city code of ethics and sent it to the Dunedin commission for its review. Commissioners have agreed to discuss the document next month.
"It's a way of garnering support for the community," said Barnette, a professor emeritus of philosophy at Valdosta State University in Georgia. "It's a very helpful communication device that I think speaks directly to the values of the trusted leaders of a community."
Barnette's proposed Code of Civility and Ethics outlines general guidelines for the commission to follow. It has a list of more than a dozen core values, such as teamwork, striving for excellence, responding to citizens' needs and leading by example.
There is even a subhead titled "Conduct of Public Meetings" that states commissioners should listen attentively to all public discussions.
"They shall refrain from interrupting other speakers; making personal comments not germane to the business of the body; or otherwise interfering with the orderly conduct of meetings."
Most cities have written or understood codes of ethics, Barnette said. Dunedin's code would be primarily a reminder to commissioners to respect each other. It would not effect any change in how the commissioners govern.
"It's meant to bring together things that may show up - there's Sunshine laws," he said. "Basically, what this does is pull it all together."
Dunedin has debated a couple of controversial issues in the past year, including a tax rate increase and the renaming of a street and building after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The discussions of those issues became so emotional at times that commissioners' frustrations were visible, including such gestures as the aforementioned eye-rolling and interruptions.
Even the Public Relations Advisory Committee picked up on the problem.
Chairman William Newton sent a letter to the commission earlier this year about their behavior.
"For the past year, the committee has discussed what is depicted as frustration of the Commissioners with each other during Commission meetings," wrote Newton. "We know this can be as little as a subtle facial expression or posture to a tone of voice."
Commissioner Deborah Kynes sent out a memo two days after she received the proposed code, saying she was interested in bringing Barnette's ideas forward. In the memo, she said she, too, had become concerned with the tenor at meetings.
"If we're short with each other, rolling our eyes - for PRAC to say, "We're a little concerned here,' I think that was a definite prod for us to take advantage of people's talents," she said.
Commissioner Bob Hackworth, however, has reservations. He thinks the city should focus on what he perceives as more pressing issues, such as fiscal responsibility. He also worries that the code's intent is to eliminate healthy debate.
"I think that we have at times exhibited a frustration with the process that we are going through," Hackworth said. "But not to the point where it's completely broken down into mayhem. I would be real concerned that any effort to eliminate frustration that meant debate and dissension was minimized would not be good public policy."
Barnette, who drafted the code for Dunedin pro bono, said that's not the purpose of a code.
During the special meeting next month, Barnette plans to discuss the reasons for a code and initiate a discussion with commissioners.
Those reasons, he said, do not include limiting healthy debate.
"People can see that the leaders have addressed and adopted a set of ethical guidelines," said Barnette, who has drafted codes of ethics for organizations and academic institutions. "Having an ethics policy, I think, enhances good wholesome dispute that we expect leaders to have by showing that those disputes are not to be taken personally."