There can be no doubt that Delaware County Council with its long standing one-party government has created a pay-to-play culture of the worst sort.
Remedy: Open government and accountability requirements. I propose the following six point plan.
1. Competitive Bidding for County Government Contracts.
- All government contracts over $10,000 must go to the lowest responsible bidder, who meets certain defined criteria.
- Contract bids must be available for public inspection.
- Must be a procedure to challenge awards.
- All bidders must disclose all political contributions to any Pennsylvania state or municipal candidate, elected official or political committee for the two years prior to the bid.
- All county contractors must disclose within five (5) days, any political contribution to a Pennsylvania state or municipal elected official, candidate, or political committee.
- Penalties for Non-Compliance.
- Review current no-bid contracts over $10,000 for individual contributions made by bidders. Place contract and contributor information on the county website.
- Each department that issued a no-bid contract must complete a questionnaire, detailing the rationale for granting the contract.
- County Council will conduct ethics and procurement seminars to educate the public and county employees on local, state, and federal ethics laws and regulations. County Council will also publish an informational brochure to educate potential vendors and contractors.
2. Merit Based Hiring and Promotion
- Written and publicly available job descriptions for all county jobs.
- Merit based performance reviews including attendance criteria.
3. County Ethics Act.
- Prohibition of pension board members and pension board employees from accepting gifts and/or trips from any and all money managers
4. County Open Records Act.
- Expand definition of public records
- Create a master database available to the public listing all campaign finance information of all elected officials in Delaware County.
- Streamlined process for making public records available.
- Copies of proposed ordinances must be available to the public and posted online before final adoption by County Council.
- All comprehensive annual audits and departmental audits must be available online.
5. Televise All County Council Meetings.
6. Objective Standards and Clear Criteria for Bond Lawyers
- All bond lawyers who are paid must have an active participatory role in the bond work. Campaign contribution disclosed at the time of bid for bond work.
7. Campaign Contributions on the Internet
- County Council will place all campaign contributions on the Internet. The county's website will mirror the campaign information on PA's Department of State website.
- First, Delaware County residents will have the ability to search for a Campaign Finance Reports. They will be able to search by filer name, election year, reporting cycle, office holder, municipality, and political party.
- Second, residents will be able to search by "contributor's name." In this search, individuals will be able to input contributor's name, city, state, date of contribution, minimum and maximum amount of contribution, and the recipient of the contribution.
- Third, the website would permit candidates to file their campaign finance report online. All candidates, registered political committees, and contributing lobbyists will be able to file their campaign finance report online.
- Fourth, the website will list relevant campaign finance reporting law, so that candidates and citizens can understand the reporting requirements.
- Fifth, all reporting deadlines will be clearly indicated to eliminate any potential confusion about when to file reports.
- Sixth, candidate forms will be available for candidate usage and citizen perusal.
- Seventh, a list of all current registered political committees and candidate committees will be available along with their addresses and contact information.
- The above will provide for a comprehensive website that will allow people to understand how political money travels in Delaware County. Moreover, candidates will have an easier time filing their reports. These changes are good government measures that further transparency in government.
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