Ethics HOMEWORK

Parkville1   Letty Lewis is an engineer at RMJ, Inc., a large corporation in Houston, TX. Letty prefers living in a smaller community. She commutes 32 miles daily from her home in Parkville, a community of fewer than 5,000 people. Noted for her environmental concerns, Letty is on Parkville's Committee for Environmental Quality, a small but active citizen's group. Last year the committee successfully spearheaded opposition to rezoning a Parkville recreational and wildlife area for commercial purposes. While acknowledging that commercial development would aid the local economy, the committee convinced the City Council that economic progress should not come at the expense of the environment. However, now Letty is facing a difficult problem. She has learned that RMJ has its eyes on the recreational and wildlife area for developing a new facility. RMJ needs to expand its operations. This will require a new facility. But the immediate area has little to offer. In surveying surrounding areas RMJ's planning committee has determined that the most desirable location for its new facility would be in nearby Parkville's recreational and wildlife area. The RMJ planning committee approaches Parkville's City Council. RMJ makes what it considers to be a very generous offer to Parkville’s City Council. Presenting itself as an environmentally conscious corporation, RMJ says it will need only 20% of the wildlife and recreational area; it will carefully monitor and control emissions into the air and water, using “beyond the state-of-the-art" equipment and standards; it will annually contribute funds for the preservation and maintenance of the remaining 80% of the area. In addition, RMJ points out how its presence will increase the tax base of Parkville, create new jobs, and enhance the local economy. A member of RMJ's planning committee learns that one of RMJ's engineers, Letty Lewis, lives in Parkville. He suggests to committee chair, Rigo Rico, that someone talk to her to see if she might be able to "soften up" Parkville City Council members. Rigo thinks this is a good idea and calls Charlie Charm, chief engineer of Letty's unit. "Charlie," Rigo says, "I'd like you to talk with one of your engineers, Letty Lewis, about our efforts to secure some land near Parkville." Rigo goes on to detail RMJ's plans and what he would like Letty to be asked to do. Charlie is not aware of Letty’s environmental concerns or her role on the Parkville Environmental Committee. He agrees to talk with Letty and encourages her to work on making contact with someone on the City Council, either directly or through friends who know members on the Council. Letty replies to Charlie, "I live a very private life. I barely go out and don’t know anyone in the community, much less Council members. I’d rather not talk to anyone." Charlie reports this to Rigo. Much to Charlie's surprise, Rigo replies, "She is lying! Guess what I learned just half an hour ago? I had a phone conversation with an old friend who moved away from Parkville last fall. He says Letty

                                                                                                                1  Based  on  a  Harris  et  al.  case  

Lewis is a very prominent figure in Parkville. She is on an environmental committee in Parkville. She knows City Council members all right. She and her committee members took on the Council last year and blocked the Council's effort to open up commercially the area we want! We're going to have to keep an eye on her. Tell her she'd better "cool it" on this one." Charlie carries out Rigo’s orders and tells Letty that they have learned about her involvement with the environmental committee. He adds, “I can see you climbing the RMJ ladder if you give us a hand on this one.” Letty tells Rigo that she will help RMJ and promises to do her best when the Environmental Committee meets again. She keeps all her conversations with RMJ personnel secret. Two weeks later, at the outset of the meeting the Committee chair announces that he has just learned of RMJ's intentions. He asks Letty if she already knew about RMJ’s intentions. She indicates that she did, but decided not to talk about it because of ethical considerations. She informs the committee that she is loyal to her environmental convictions and will oppose RMJ’s plan. “Just keep it a secret, please,” she says. To Letty’s astonishment, the Committee members support RMJ’s offer and cite the fact that the park will be a better place if RMJ donates all the money they promised. Letty still opposes the move. A vote is taken in which Letty’s ballot is the only one going against RMJ. The final tally is 8-1. A week later, Parkville’s City Council approves RMJ’s proposal to acquire 20 percent of the park. The Parkville website mentions the great support received by the town’s environmental committee (the 8-1 vote is included in the commentary). Charlie and Rigo spot Letty at the cafeteria and say to her, almost simultaneously “Letty, thank you for your support on the Parkville park issue. We are sure your input and passion had a lot to do with that 8-1 outcome. We can see where your priorities are. Thank you for persuading the committee on that crucial vote.” Letty responds with the sweetest possible smile she can muster, and without uttering a word, leaves the cafeteria.

Letty Charlie Rigo

Parkville Letty in Environmental

Committee meeting RMJ, Houston, TX