Following a thorough review process, the ICMA Executive Board voted to approve the following recommendations from ICMA’s Committee on Professional Conduct during their June 21, 2024, meeting:

• Mark Danaj, former city manager, Fremont, California, was publicly censured and expelled from ICMA membership for conduct that violated Tenets 2, 3, and 12 of the ICMA Code of Ethics. He pleaded guilty to felony misuse of a city credit card and was sentenced to spend 90 days in jail, followed by two years of probation. Danaj was ordered to pay over $300,000 in restitution to Fremont after knowingly accepting a $300,000 severance package while still owing the city for unpaid personal credit card charges without disclosing this during negotiation and separation. The judge in Danaj’s civil case forbade him from holding public office again.  The board concluded he failed in his fiduciary responsibility to the city, was not transparent with the governing body or the public, and did not meet his ethical obligation to maintain public confidence and trust.

• Eric Gratz, former borough manager, Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania, was publicly censured and permanently barred from membership for conduct that violated Tenets 2, 3, and 12 of the ICMA Code of Ethics. Gratz pleaded guilty to charges of two counts to solicit prostitution from an employee/former employee and one woman was a minor. He was sentenced to serve two years of probation and the governing body ended his employment.

• Brian Hawley, town manager, Stantonsburg, North Carolina, was publicly censured for conduct that violated Tenets 3 and 7 of the ICMA Code of Ethics. The board’s decision included the provision Hawley be suspended from rejoining ICMA’s membership for two years. While serving as a local government manager in 2023, Hawley campaigned and unsuccessfully ran for elected office for the mayor’s position in his home community and publicly supported a candidate for elected office. The board concluded Hawley’s conduct constituted political activity that undermines public confidence in the profession and the long-held standard of political neutrality. Hawley’s conduct in person and online also did not demonstrate the highest standard of ethical conduct and integrity and reflected poorly on the local government management profession.

As a member benefit, ICMA provides confidential advice to any member who may need guidance to resolve an ethical situation or may be uncertain of his or her ethical obligations. Contact Jessica Cowles, ethics director at jcowles@icma.org, for a discussion. Ethics advice, information, and the ICMA Code of Ethics are available online.