Sep. 9--There's no question that Public Service Board members should be subject to the standards set forth and enforced by the city's ethics policy.

The board is in the process of expanding from five to seven members, so this would be a good time to make sure the panel is covered by the code.

There have been complaints from time to time that the board has little or no accountability. Having board members working under the ethics code should help reassure people in that area.

Under the ethics code, those covered by it must report gifts of more than $10 and have to file a monthly report with the city clerk. Most gifts of more than $75 in value are banned.

Ed Archuleta, chief executive officer and president of El Paso Water Utilities, said, "There's really no change for us. All it is is a cleanup ordinance to make sure that the ethics ordinance applies to the PSB legally. Our attorney has been telling us for years that it does apply to us."

Even so, it's good to have this understanding in ordinance form. It could serve to head off more pointless and time-wasting attacks on the PSB.

You might recall that earlier this year, factions sought to strip the stormwater utility oversight from the Public Service Board and give it to the city. The move was a waste of time and money.

Perhaps formalizing the PSB's relationship with the ethics policy will help to avoid future incidents.

Eastridge/Mid-Valley city Rep. Steve Ortega said, "Any time you can have more accountability

from decision-makers at the highest level, that's a good thing. Certainly the water utility and its board are responsible for land-management decisions that are extremely important to the community. Having them abide by the city's ethics ordinance is a move in the right direction."

He's right.

Transparent government and the public's right to know must be safeguarded and promoted. This is what this proposed ordinance will do.

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