• 1-782-234-2507
  • don@donsmeltzer.ca
  • Canada

“Integrity, accountability and transparency are pillars of public trust. When any of these crack or chip away, the result is broken democracy.”

A Must Read For Council Members

A Matter of Choice is about ethics in municipal decision-making. It is intended primarily for those who serve on municipal councils and for senior employees of the municipal public service. Educators and others interested in decision-making at the local level will also find the content of value.

The chief goal is to encourage thoughtful self-analysis and discussion about values which are fundamental to democracy. A secondary goal is to provide a selection of practical resources that will assist the process of decision-making.

At the core of this book are 21 brief, introspective case studies. Each case study challenges readers to face themselves and to consider how they will respond if placed in a situation similar to that described.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  • Democracy at the Core
  • Municipal Corruption
  • Ethical Decision-Making
  • Under the Magnifying Glass
  1. Introspective Case Studies
  • Case Study 1 – Mr. Clean
  • Case Study 2 – Back to School Daze
  • Case Study 3 – Wet Blanket
  • Case Study 4 – Friends with Benefits
  • Case Study 5 – Family Affair
  • Case Study 6 – Follow Suit

– Show Less

  • Case Study 7 – Back Scratch Fever
  • Case Study 8 – Neighbourhood Watch
  • Case Study 9 – Loose Lips
  • Case Study 10 – Colours of the Rainbow
  • Case Study 11 – Pants on Fire
  • Case Study 12 – Delusions of Grandeur
  • Case Study 13 – Too Many Chiefs
  • Case Study 14 – At All Costs
  • Case Study 15 – All for Show
  • Case Study 16 – Fifty Shades of Gray
  • Case Study 17 – Sleeping Dogs
  • Case Study 18 – Too Big for Britches
  • Case Study 19 – Back Against the Wall
  • Case Study 20 – Hot Seat
  • Case Study 21 – Playing Dirty
  1. From Don’s Toolbox
  • Program Funding Questions
  • Post-Election Orientation
  • Chief Administrative Officer Evaluation
  • Policy Development
  • Meeting Conduct Guidelines
  • Code of Conduct Guidelines
  • Tips for Effective Leadership
  • Tips for Managing Difficult People
  1. Conclusion