COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA2 COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT3 Room 400, City Hall6 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, December 6, 20117 2:10 p.m. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE, CHAIR10 COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN11 COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY12 BILL 110716 - An ordinance amending Chapter14 20-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Standards of Conduct and Ethics," to include15 Life Partners among the family members listed therein for purposes of application of various16 ethical rules... - - -18 2
Good2 afternoon, everyone, all three of you.3 This is the Committee on Law and4 Government.5 We have a quorum: Councilman6 Kenney, the Vice-Chair; Councilman Goode;7 and Councilman Green.8 Ms. Marconi, will you please9 read the title of the bill before us10 today.11
Bill No. 110716, an12 ordinance amending Chapter 20-600 of The13 Philadelphia Code, entitled "Standards of14 Conduct and Ethics," to include Life15 Partners among the family members listed16 therein for purposes of application of17 various ethical rules, under certain18 terms and conditions.19
Thank20 you.21 I have two witnesses on my22 list, Joan Markman and Brian Sims.23 Please, both of you can approach the24 table at the same time.25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161 Anyone else wish to testify?2 (No response.)3 (Witnesses approached witness4 table.)5 COUNCILMAN GREENLEE:6 Ms. Markman, you go first, please. We7 have your statement here, but if you can8 identify yourself for the record.9
Sure. Good10 afternoon. My name is Joan Markman. I'm11 the City's Chief Integrity Officer.12 Thanks for the opportunity to present13 testimony on this bill, which amends the14 Ethics Code to include Life Partners15 among the family members listed in the16 ethic rules. And thanks, Councilman17 Green, for introducing the bill on behalf18 of the Administration and for your input19 into and language about the scope of this20 bill.21 The proposed bill amends the22 Gifts and Conflict of Interest sections23 of the Ethics Code. Specifically, it24 would exempt from the definition of25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161 Prohibited Gifts to a City employee from2 that employee's Life Partner. This is3 consistent with rules that allow for4 gifts between spouses and other family5 members. For the Conflict of Interest6 rules, the bill adds Life Partners to the7 list of family members for whom action by8 a City employee would constitute a9 conflict of interest.10 These changes are necessary to11 ensure that City employees with life12 partners are treated the same as their13 married colleagues.14 We respectfully request that15 the Committee report this bill out with a16 favorable recommendation and a suspension17 of the rules so that it may be passed18 this Council session.19 In short -- I'm going off20 script here -- this is a no-brainer. So21 I'm happy to answer any questions that22 you might have.23
Is that24 an official legal term, no-brainer?25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161
Thank4 you.5 Are there any questions for6 Ms. Markman?7 (No response.)8
Seeing9 none, Mr. Sims, before you go, just so I10 don't forget, also Richard Glazer, Chair11 of the Philadelphia Board of Ethics, has12 submitted written testimony, which will13 be made part of the record, and he also14 is in support of the bill -- or the15 Ethics Board is in support of the bill.16 Mr. Sims, please identify17 yourself for the record.18
Certainly. Thank19 you. My name is Brian Sims. I am a20 policy attorney and a civil rights21 attorney living here in Philadelphia. I22 have previously served as the staff23 counsel for Policy and Planning at the24 Philadelphia Bar Association, and I am25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161 the former Board President of both the2 Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia3 and Equality Pennsylvania, the4 Commonwealth's LGBT advocacy5 organization. 8 Mr. Chairman, thank you for9 allowing me the opportunity to address10 the members of the Committee about Bill11 110716 to add Life Partners to the City's12 ethical regulations. 20 Without attempting to lift the21 pressures that you feel to continue to22 help the City grow and strengthen, I23 would like to offer my thanks to you and24 to Philadelphia City Council. The truth25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. 16 As a proud Philadelphian, I can17 go to work each day and know that my18 rights as a gay man are protected. 22 This city says that I have23 every right to access its parks, tour its24 museums or to be served at any of its25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161 restaurants. 16 Over the last 60 years, a host17 of powerful and important additions have18 been made to the ordinance, and today the19 rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and many20 transgender Philadelphians are afforded21 protections that they would not find22 elsewhere. This has happened as a result23 of countless hours of hard work and24 lobbying both within City Council over25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. 25 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. 20 Clearly, the City has provided21 a thoughtful, respectful and thorough22 definition of Life Partnership in order23 to be certain that the maximum benefits24 up to the rights of LGBT Philadelphians25 11 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. 7 As demonstrated by the8 definition provided for in the City's9 Fair Practices Ordinance, Philadelphia10 recognizes that the strength and depth of11 LGBT relationships are certainly akin to12 the many relationships already provided13 for in the City's ethical rules and14 regulations. 22 LGBT people are deserving of23 all of our rights, and we recognize24 gladly that we too share the25 12 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. 4 Bill 110716 takes a significant5 and important step towards equality for6 all Philadelphia's citizens, and I urge7 you to vote in its favor. 16
Thank17 you, and thank you for the kind words18 about City Council. We don't get those19 all the time.20
And I22 will echo -- and I said this the other23 week when we passed a bill dealing with24 the LGBT community. I think just a few25 13 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161 years ago, if any bill even mentioned the2 word "life partners" in it, we would have3 had people in here protesting. So I4 think not only I think has government5 come far, I think the City has come far.6
Thank9 you.10 Any questions or comments?11 (No response.)12
Thank you13 very much.14 Anyone else here to testify on15 this bill?16 (No response.)17
Seeing18 none, that will conclude the hearing of19 the Committee on Law and Government.20 We'll go into the public meeting, and the21 Chair recognizes Councilman Green22 regarding this bill.23
Thank you,24 Mr. Chair. I move that Bill 110716 be25 14 12/6/11 - LAW & GOV. - BILL 1107161 reported from this Committee, with a2 suspension of the rules to allow first3 reading at our next session of Council,4 with a favorable recommendation.5
It's been6 moved and seconded.7 All in favor say aye.8 (Aye.)9
Hearing12 none, Bill No. 110716 reported out of13 this Committee with a favorable14 recommendation, rules suspension to have15 first reading at our next session of16 Council.17 There being no further business18 before this Committee, the meeting is19 adjourned.20 Thank you all very much.21 (Committee on Law and22 Government concluded at 2:20 p.m.)23 - - -24 25 15 1 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on December 6, 2011, and that7 this is a true and correct transcript of same.8 9 10 11 12 --------------------13 MICHELE L. MURPHY14 RPR-Notary Public15 16 17 18 (The foregoing certification of this19 transcript does not apply to any reproduction20 of the same by any means, unless under the21 direct control and/or supervision of the22 certifying reporter.)23 24 25