Bullying in the Boston City Council is evidently a problem that City Council President Ed Flynn would like to nip in the bud. Last week Flynn held State Ethics Training and Anti-bullying Working Session for Boston City Council.  It was spread over two days with five hours of training and covered conflict of interest law, gift restrictions, code of conduct and related ethics issues, in addition to the Anti-Bullying policy Flynn filed with the Council in May. 

Also, the Boston Herald reported earlier this week that an attorney for the Boston City Council filed an internal complaint against three city councilors, alleging that she was “intimidated, ridiculed, harassed and bullied” by them after she provided advice on a redistricting matter at an April meeting. You can read more about this here. 

Flynn responded to the article:

This is all following several messy months and a PR nightmare for the Boston City Council.  You can read about that here.

See press release below re: training and anti-bullying working sessions: 

BOSTON – This week, Boston City Council President Ed Flynn hosted a Massachusetts State Ethics Training for over two hours on Tuesday, August 8th, followed by a three-hour working session on Thursday, August 10th regarding an Anti-Bullying Policy for City Councilors, Council staff, and Council Central Staff that he introduced in May. 

On Tuesday, Council President Flynn invited the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission Public Education and Communications Division Chief David Giannotti to provide ethics training at City Hall, with all Councilors and staff invited to attend. The regular training was scheduled as a courtesy and not part of the mandatory City of Boston annual compliance, although it proved timely due to recent legal and ethical lapses by members of the body. The State Ethics Commission covered conflict of interest law, gift restrictions, code of conduct and related ethics issues. 

“As Elected Officials, it is critical that City Councilors and staff are equipped with knowledge on how to obtain legal advice, disclose information, and manage any potential conflicts of interest so that we are in full compliance of the law,” said Council President Flynn. “I want to thank the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission for this training, in addition to the City’s annual compliance, and my colleagues and their staff for attending. In positions of public trust, it is helpful that we continually refresh ourselves and receive any updates on rules, regulations, and always remain aware of avoiding any hint of impropriety.”

On Thursday, Council President Flynn held a Rules Committee working session to discuss the Anti-Bullying policy he filed with the Council in May. 

“An Anti-Bullying Policy should have been implemented decades ago, and I intend to do so before my term as Boston City Council President concludes,”said Council President Flynn. “It is of the utmost importance that we promote a culture that is inclusive and attracts talent to public service at City Hall, where everyone feels welcome in the workplace, and not subject to any type of bullying or harassment. I hope that my colleagues and I can continue to work together towards agreeable standards and make the City Council a positive and welcoming work environment for all.”

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and [email protected]

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