COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, June 7, 2007 9:45 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO RESOLUTION 070404 - Resolution confirming the appointment of Phoebe Haddon as a member of the Board of Ethics, to serve in the term ending November 16, 2009. - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good morning. This is the public hearing of the Committee of the Whole. I would ask Mr. McPherson to please read the title of Bill No. 070404. MR. McPHERSON: Resolution 8 confirming the appointment of Phoebe Haddon as a member of the Board of Ethics, to serve in the term ending November 16, 2009.
Good morning. My name is Joyce Wilkerson. I'm Chief of Staff for the Mayor's Office. I'm honored to appear before you today to introduce Phoebe Haddon, nominee to the independent Board of Ethics. Ms. Haddon is nominated to take the seat formerly held by Reverend Waller. Reverend Waller submitted his resignation earlier this spring. The other members that Phoebe would join include Richard Glazer, Rich Negrin, Stella Tsai and Pauline 3 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 Abernathy. As Council is well aware, Philadelphia has taken great strides towards ethics reform in recent years culminating in the creation of the independent Ethics Board. Under the law, the Mayor nominates members to the Ethics Board. With the advice and consent of a majority of the members of Council, they're seated. Members of the Ethics Board have certain restrictions, including a prohibition from seeking any elected office for a period of two years. Once they're confirmed, members of the new Ethics Board can only be removed for cause after notice from the Mayor, a hearing before City Council and a vote of two-thirds of members of City Council. With that as background, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce Professor Phoebe Haddon seated to my left. Ms. Haddon is a Professor at the 4 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. She's no stranger to local government. From 1987 to 1990, Ms. Haddon directed a corporation established by the Redevelopment Authority to create new affordable housing initiatives in the City and also served as Deputy Executive Director there. She did that while on sabbatical from Temple Law School. She's also served as a Hearing Examiner for the City's Water Department. Currently, Ms. Haddon teaches constitutional law, has written three casebook editions in the area of constitutional law. In addition, she's written extensively on professional responsibilities in ethics. Professor Haddon will serve the balance of the three-year term on the Board. Her professional and civic commitments are extensive, including service as a trustee for Pennsylvanians for a Modern Courts and the Bar 5 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 Association's Committee on Racial and Gender Bias and the ABA Section on Legal Education. Ms. Haddon has been selected for her independence, integrity, civic commitment and high ethical standards. On behalf of the Administration, I respectfully request that you confirm Phoebe Haddon to the independent Board of Ethics by approving Resolution 070404 so that she can begin her independent work as soon as possible.
Welcome. Is there something you would like to add to what has already been said about you?
Well, first, let me say that it is an honor to be nominated to this Board and join Richard Glazer, Pauline Abernathy and Richard Negrin. Each of these individuals have 6 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 worked tirelessly to effectuate the new ethics provisions, and I hold them and their work in the highest regard. I look forward to assisting them in continuing to effectuate the law. I thought I would offer some additional insights about my background and experience that leads me to be interested in serving on this Board. As Joyce Wilkerson has said, I have been a President -- I'm sorry; a Professor of Law at Temple University for years, principally teaching 15 constitutional law and torts. I am the 16 author of several casebooks, and I also 17 am the author of several law review 18 articles on a variety of issues, 19 including diversity, ethics and 20 professional responsibility. Much of my 21 work has focused on considering the 22 lawyer as a public citizen and thinking 23 about democratic participation in a more 24 meaningful fashion. 25 As a Law Professor, I've been 7 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 deeply involved in public interest and social justice work, and Joyce Wilkerson mentioned some of the things that I have been involved in, so I won't go back into those, but I would mention that I was also the Chair of the Reinvestment Fund for over ten years and, in that capacity, watched the extraordinary growth of that organization that has been so responsive to the revitalization of communities in Philadelphia. I also served as Deputy Executive Director, as Joyce mentioned, and I was proud to be a part of Robert Hazen's leadership during that time and his team, which included several outstanding women with whom you are familiar. One of them sits next to me, Joyce Wilkerson, but they also include Charisse Lillie, who was General Counsel at the time, and Patricia Smith, who was Development Counsel at the time. It's not surprising that these women have continued to work in the interest of a 8 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 better Philadelphia in a host of significant positions. Their work ethic and integrity are well known by Council, and I am grateful to have had the privilege to work with them and to learn from them. Finally, I would add that I am currently a member of the Board of two for-profit Boards, the newly established Valley Green Bank and the long-established insurance company, the Philadelphia Contributionship Companies. That's an entity that was created by Ben Franklin. These connections also inform my understanding and appreciation of the importance of maintaining integrity by imposing firm ethical guidelines to government behavior and corporate decision-making. I believe that the City is poised to be a leader in the area of good government and ethics with the creation of this Ethics Board and the amendments to the Charter. I am particularly 9 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 pleased that the Ethics Board is planning to train over 90 percent, practically all, of the City employees and City officials about the obligations related to the changes in the law. It is my hope that the City will become a leader in defining ethical and good government, and I would be pleased to help in this endeavor. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Are there any questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)
Any questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)
This will conclude our public hearing. We 10 6/7/07 - WHOLE - RES. 070404 will now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Madam President, I move that Resolution 070404 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Resolution No. 070404 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you very much. (Committee of the Whole adjourned at 9:50 p.m.) 11 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on June 7, 2007, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)