(A) Village officials and employees must, at all times, abide by protections to the public embodied in Ohio’s ethics laws, as found in R.C. Chapters 102 and 2921, and as interpreted by the Ohio Ethics Commission and state courts. (A copy of these laws is provided by the Village Council, and receipt acknowledged, as required in R.C. § 102.09(D).) Officials and employees must conduct themselves, at all times, in a manner that avoids favoritism, bias and the appearance of impropriety.
(B) (1) A general summary of the restraints upon the conduct of all officials and employees includes, but is not limited to, those listed below.
(2) No member or employee shall:
(a) Solicit or accept anything of value from anyone doing business with the village;
(b) Solicit or accept employment from anyone doing business with the village, unless the official or employee completely withdraws from the village activity regarding the party offering employment, and the Council of the village approves the withdrawal;
(c) Use his or her public position to obtain benefits for the official or employee, a family member or anyone with whom the official or employee has a business or employment relationship;
(d) Be paid or accept any form of compensation for personal services rendered on a matter before, or sells goods or services to, the village;
(e) Be paid or accept any form of compensation for personal services rendered on a matter before, or sell (except by competitive bid) goods or services to, any state agency other than the village, unless the member or employee first discloses the services or sales and withdraws from matters before the Council of the village that directly affect officials and employees of the other state agency, as directed in R.C. § 102.04;
(f) Hold or benefit from a contract with, authorized by, or approved by, the village, (the Ethics Law does except some limited stockholdings, and some contracts objectively shown as the lowest cost services, where all criteria under R.C. § 2921.42 are met);
(g) Vote, authorize, recommend or in any other way use his or her position to secure approval of a village contract (including employment or personal services) in which the official or employee, a family member, or anyone with whom the official or employee has a business or employment relationship, has an interest;
(h) Solicit or accept honoraria (see R.C. §§ 102.01(H) and 102.03(H));
(I) During public service, and for one year after leaving public service, represent any person, in any fashion, before any public agency, with respect to a matter in which the official or employee personally participated while serving with the village;
(j) Use or disclose confidential information protected by law, unless appropriately authorized; or use, or authorize the use of, his or her title, the name “Village of Brewster,” in a manner that suggests impropriety, favoritism or bias by the village or the official or employee;
(C) For purposes of this policy:
ANYTHING OF VALUE. Includes anything of monetary value, including, but not limited to, money, gifts, food or beverages, social event tickets and expenses, travel expenses, golf outings, consulting fees, compensation or employment.
ANYONE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE VILLAGE. Includes, but is not limited to, any person, corporation or other party that is doing or seeking to do business with, regulated by, or has interests before the Council of the village.
VALUE. Worth greater than de minimis or nominal.
(Ord. 38-2014, passed 9-15-2014)