Seriously? Too much commenting detracts from the overall sense of irony.
Ethics ruling sets up barrier for some
By Marcia Gelbart
Inquirer Staff Writer

At 68, Joseph Manko has lived a life committed to two passions: politics and public service.

He has raised money for presidential candidates, won a delegate spot at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and most recently, co-chaired Mayor Nutter's fund-raising committee. He has also served as a Lower Merion Township commissioner and on the Fairmount Park Commission. Two weeks ago Nutter also named him a member of the city's high-profile Zoning Board of Adjustment.

But for the first time, he has found himself forced to choose between his twin passions.

Because of a Philadelphia Board of Ethics ruling that took effect with Nutter's first day, Manko is prohibited from being politically active while serving on the park commission or zoning board. He won't even be able to wear a campaign button for a presidential candidate.

"It's over the top," Manko said this week. "It's going to make people who want to voluntarily serve give up a significant part of their First Amendment rights. . . . Now I won't be able to do anything but vote or give money."

Rules limiting political activity have long applied to full-time city employees, as spelled out in the Philadelphia City Charter.

But members of city boards and commissions generally have been exempt, thanks to a number of piecemeal rulings by the city solicitor's office over the years. Though there were some exceptions, for the most part only boards that paid members $40 or more per meeting fell under the charter provision.

That changed after the city Department of Licenses and Inspections asked the Ethics Board last October to offer its opinion on whether the political activity limits applied to four boards the department oversees.

Hey Philly, he's all yours now...we're glad Lower Merion's former Commissioner is hip to the First Amendment, would that he have been so hip once upon a time with regard to Ardmore, the Historic Business District and the Fifth Amendment? You know....the one that says (in part):

"..nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation...."

Who woulda thunk that Philadelphia would have rules more strict? But then again, how are we to tell since Lower Merion Township didn't think they need an ethics board? This does open a door to an interesting conversation, eh? Remember when it was brought up for discussion and the only commissioner willing to discuss it or enact one was Lance Rogers?

See more from the Committee of 70 - because when the Inky article disappears in it's entirety, this will undoubtedly remain:

The Committee of Seventy: 02/04/08 Ethics Ruling

Here is a list philly.com has of the rules.