It is hereby declared to be the policy of the City of Brunswick that Municipal officials and employees shall impartially and faithfully exercise the duties of their office and employment.
To assist and guide the officials and employees in those unchartered areas where application of ethical principles may be in doubt, to generate public interest in proper standards of official conduct and thereby encourage a greater measure of respect for, and confidence in public office and to protect members of Council, officers and employees of the City of Brunswick from malicious innuendos through the avoidance of any basis for suspicion, the following sections are to be incorporated in this Charter:
a. It shall be unlawful for any member of Council or any officer or employee of the City of Brunswick:
1. To act directly or indirectly as attorney, agent, broker, or employee or in any other capacity in behalf of any private person, firm or corporation interested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in any contract, work or business, or the sale or acquisition of any property, the cost of which is payable from City funds or requires from City Council any of the following:
A. Rezoning
B. Annexation
C. Installation of water lines
D. Road improvements
E. Building permits, except for one's own domicile.
2. To engage in the practice of law or to represent or to appear in behalf of an individual or individuals before Mayor's Court of the City of Brunswick in any matter or controversy in which the City of Brunswick is or may become a party except on behalf of the City as an officer or employee, or volunteer opinion evidence against the interests of the City in any litigation in which the City of Brunswick is a party; or
3. To appear before any board or commission of the City of Brunswick as counsel, attorney or agent except in behalf of a constituent or constituents without compensation therefor, or in the performance of public obligations or official duties.
b. No person after termination of his service as an officer or employee of the City of Brunswick shall accept employment as a lawyer in any matter which he/she has investigated or passed upon while in such office or employ or engage in practice of law before any court in any litigation in which the City of Brunswick is a party which involves any such matter.
c. No official or employee of the City shall engage in any business or transaction or shall have financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his/her official duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his/her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his/her official duties. Personal as distinguished from financial interest includes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or close business or political association.
d. For purposes of this Charter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivatives, shall have the meaning given in this section:
1. "Officials and employees" shall mean the Mayor, any and all members of Council, officers and employees of the City and members of any board or commission of the City of Brunswick, but shall not be deemed to include a person, firm or corporation retained by the City as special counsel or for other professional or expert advisory or consulting services.
2. "Agency" shall mean the Council, or any board or commissions of the City or any department or division of the City.
3. "Substantial financial interest" shall mean any of the following interest in a business, firm or corporation; proprietor, member of a partnership, officer or director of a corporation associated in the practice of law involving splitting of legal fees, officer or director of a corporation, or a shareholder in a corporation in which such person, his/her spouse and children together own ten percent (10%) or more of all outstanding voting shares.
e. Officials and employees shall publicly disclose on the official records of Council any direct or financial interest or other personal or private right he/she may have in any legislation pending before Council prior to its third reading or passage. Said disclosure shall deprive any member of Council of his/her right to vote on said legislation. The failure of any member of Council, officers, members of boards or commissions to make said disclosure shall not affect the validity of the legislation.
(Amended 11-8-05; 11-3-15)