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Chattanooga: Council OKs rules on fundraising by city employees

By: Michael Davis
(Contact)

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Chattanooga City Council -- July 8, 2008

The Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday night approved a policy establishing guidelines for city employees to seek and take financial gifts from the public.

The policy on “fundraising, solicitation, acceptance and distribution of monetary contributions” is meant to address the matter of city department representatives asking for money for “activities that are not typically funded with tax dollars,” said Daisy Madison, the city’s chief financial officer.

“The council wanted to make absolutely certain that people that are approached and did not give solicitations or did give solicitations were not treated differently because of their decision to contribute or not contribute,” Ms. Madison said Tuesday afternoon.

Council members raised questions recently when the Chattanooga Police Department wanted to solicit donations for a ball. A separate resolution allowing the police department to take contributions also was passed Tuesday night by the City Council after being deferred until the policy could be written.

The policy states that “no solicitation shall state or imply that a donation will influence or affect how the party is treated by City officers and employees.” The policy also bans cash gifts except to buy tickets to fundraising events.

Councilman Dan Page said the police department wished to hold events after which the proceeds will go into the community. He said the council just wanted the policy to make sure the public does not feel pressured to give.

“We (don’t) want anybody to feel any intimidation or any obligation to make gifts, other than their personal obligation,” Mr. Page said Tuesday afternoon before the council approved the resolution for the policy.

The policy also states that the City Council has to sign off on all such fundraising endeavors.

Councilman Jack Benson said the policy adds a layer of accountability.

“Now we can keep our eye on it and see how it’s implemented,” Mr. Benson said Tuesday afternoon.

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