Council assigns itself an ethics officer

Mary McDaniel, a city staff attorney for three years, will be chief ethics officer to City Council.

Council approved the appointment in a resolution passed Thursday.

The title does not come with a raise for McDaniel, who makes $87,975 a year.

"One of the things we want to make sure is that individuals that work for City Council understand all the rules and laws," Council President Darrell L. Clarke said.

Clarke said McDaniel would work as a conduit between Council and the city's chief integrity officer.

He lauded McDaniel's knowledge of government ethics rules in the city and state. McDaniel is a former Pennsylvania state trooper and Lancaster County assistant district attorney. She was chief of staff to former Councilman Dennis O'Brien when he was state speaker of the House and also worked as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Tom Corbett.

Also Thursday, Clarke proposed legislation to prohibit employers from obtaining the credit histories of employees and job applicants.

Clarke called such checks a "discriminatory practice that exacerbates income inequality." The legislation provides for certain exemptions including law enforcement agencies and financial institutions.

Council also introduced two resolutions related to the water crisis in Flint, Mich., where lead has contaminated the drinking water.

Councilwoman Helen Gym is seeking public hearings with the Water Department to learn how Philadelphia works to limit lead exposure.

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson introduced a related resolution in support of the U.S. Justice Department's investigation into the water-supply disaster in Flint.

After the weekend's snowstorm, which canceled school Monday, Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell introduced a resolution to hold hearings on a pilot program to feed needy children when schools are closed due to emergencies.

About 80 percent of Philadelphia public and charter students meet income guidelines for free and reduced school lunches, the resolution said.

Washington piloted a similar program Monday, after the storm, and served breakfast and lunch to needy families at 10 city schools, which were officially closed for the weather.

jterruso@phillynews.com 215-854-5506 @juliaterruso