The very existence of could be at stake in a debate over its ethics code, according to a national expert on tax funding and cultural districts.
The Zoo-Museum District鈥檚 ethics code is coming under increased scrutiny after At least two board members called for Whitaker to step down after she revealed that her design company won a contract with the St. Louis Science Center,Of the $70 million in tax dollars overseen by the ZMD every year, $10 million has gone to the Science Center in recent years.
The ZMD鈥檚 ethics policy only requires board members to disclose potential conflicts of interest. But such arrangements should be strictly prohibited, according to and is familiar with the district's operations.
鈥淭hey are making decisions about organizations that are looking to contract with private firms for construction, expansion and various other services," Rushton said. "So you have to have a policy that the board cannot have financial interest in any of those companies.鈥�
Rushton told 漏 2024 外网天堂 that a strong ethics code can bolster public confidence. But a weak one 鈥� which is how he describes the ZMD鈥檚 鈥� can contribute to a loss of public support, especially when the specter of conflict-of-interest issues surrounds the organization.
Public suspicion can lead to the downfall of funding organizations if people lose confidence. - Michael Rushton
鈥淧ublic suspicion can lead to the downfall of funding organizations if people lose confidence in whether these funds are actually being spent in the public interest,鈥� Rushton said. 鈥淎s people start to question how monies are being spent, they become less and less likely to support such funds, to point where they might accidently disappear entirely.鈥�
ZMD Will Review Code But May Not Change It
A January clearly states that its ethics code 鈥渘eeds to be updated.鈥�
Whitaker鈥檚 resignation has heightened the need to review 鈥� but not necessarily revise 鈥� the ethics policy, according to ZMD board member Tom Campbell.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a high priority,鈥� Campbell told 漏 2024 外网天堂.
The ZMD board has scheduled a Wednesday evening meeting to discuss both the Roddy report and the ethics code. Campbell is among those who are not committed to actually changing the ethics policy. He鈥檚 concerned that an overly stringent code could create problems.
鈥淵ou need to be careful that it doesn鈥檛 become so restrictive that you鈥檙e laying a trap for people who are on the board who are going to inadvertently violate it,鈥� Campbell said.
Campbell said that potential conflict-of-interest situations should be considered on a 鈥渃ase-by-case basis." But when asked to suggest language for a strong ethics code, he spoke of limiting arrangements that would result in financial gain for board members.
鈥淚n the case of the ZMD, it might be a restriction on any individual or their company having a direct contractual relationship with any of the five cultural institutions,鈥� he said. Campbell agreed that immediate family members should also be included.
Would such a provision have covered the Whitaker situation? 鈥淵es,鈥� Campbell said.
He said that last week鈥檚 resignation is also a reminder that board members need to keep in close touch with one another.
鈥淲e need to be aware of perceptions and be sure misperceptions aren鈥檛 created by lack of communication among ourselves and with the public,鈥� Campbell said.
Dooley Won鈥檛 Change Vetting Process
Rushton favors erring on the side of 鈥渢oo strict鈥� in an ethics code for organizations funding cultural institutions. He said the time to consider whether a potential board appointee might be particularly vulnerable to situations that are conflicts or appear to be conflicts is before they鈥檙e in a decision-making role.
鈥淚f they have a tie to a business that could potentially work with an [funded] organization, they ought to think about that potentiality before looking to serve on that board,鈥� Rushton said.
It鈥檚 not enough for a board member to acknowledge a situation in which he or she would profit from a business relationship with a funded institution, and refrain from voting on matters related to that organization, Rushton said.
鈥淚t becomes very difficult to separate, to say, 鈥榃ell, I won鈥檛 involve myself in decisions of this one organization but I will for all the others.'" Rushton said. "You can鈥檛 do this because there is a limited pot of funds and every funding decision affects every other funding decision.鈥�
The overall district, however, does have direct influence over the amount of money the subdistricts have to work with.
Whitaker was appointed by St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, who would only say he will 鈥渕ove forward in a timely manner鈥� to replace her.
Last week, Dooley said he did look for potential conflicts before appointing Whitaker, through the usual process of asking her to fill out standard forms and asking questions based on her responses. He said he鈥檒l stick with the same procedure when investigating the next candidate.
鈥淚t depends on what the person has put down [on the form] and what they tell me, but we do ask appropriate questions,鈥� Dooley said.
Jason Rosenbaum contributed to this article.
Follow Nancy Fowler on Twitter: @NancyFowlerSTL
