For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BOARD OF ETHICS. The Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Enforcement Committee (“Board of Ethics”). The BOARD OF ETHICS will be delegated the responsibility of enforcement of the requirements of the city’s Code of Ethics.
BUSINESS. Any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization, self-employed individual, holding company, joint stock company, receivership, trust, professional service corporation or any legal entity through which business is conducted for profit.
CANDIDATE. Any individual who seeks nomination or election to a city office. An individual is a CANDIDATE when the individual files a notification and declaration for nomination for office with the County Clerk or Secretary of State, or is nominated for office by a political party, or files a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the County Clerk or Secretary of State.
CITY. The City of Covington, Kentucky.
CITY AGENCY. Any board, commission, authority, non-stock corporation or other entity created, either individually or jointly, by the city.
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Information obtained in the course of holding public office or employment, or as a contractor to the city, which is not available to members of the public and which the officer or employee is not authorized to disclose, except to designated individuals or bodies, including written and non-written information. When such information is also available through channels open to the public, officers and employees are not prohibited from disclosing the availability of those channels.
CONSULTANT. An independent contractor or professional person or entity engaged by the city or advising a city officer, and in a position to influence a city decision or action, or have access to confidential information.
CUSTOMER or CLIENT. Any person or entity to which a person or entity has supplied goods or services during the previous 24 months, having a total value greater than $1,000 or any person or entity to which an officer or employee’s outside employer or business has supplied goods or services during the previous 24 months, having a total value greater than $1,000, but only if the officer or employee knows or has reason to know the outside employer or business supplied the goods or services.
DOMESTIC PARTNER. An adult, unrelated by blood, with which an unmarried or separated officer or employee has a committed relationship, maintains a mutual residence and shares basic living expenses.
EMPLOYEE. Any person, whether full-time or part-time, seasonal or temporary, and whether paid or unpaid, who is employed by or provides service to the city. The term EMPLOYEE shall not include any contractor or subcontractor or any of their employees; except that, it shall include the City Solicitor.
FAMILY MEMBER. A spouse, domestic partner, parent, step-parent, child, step-child, brother, step-brother, sister, step-sister, mother-in-law, father- in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent or grandchild.
FINANCIAL BENEFIT. Any money, service. license, permit, contract, authorization, loan, discount, travel, entertainment, hospitality, gratuity or any promise of any of these, or anything else of value. This term does not include campaign contributions authorized by law.
FINANCIAL INTEREST. A relationship to something such that a direct or indirect financial benefit has been, will be or might be received as a result of it.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER. A spouse, domestic partner, an unemancipated child or step-child residing in the officer’s or employee’s household, or a person claimed by the officer or employee, or the officer’s or employee’s spouse, as a dependent for tax purposes.
HOUSEHOLD. Anyone whose primary residence is in the officer or employee’s home, including non-relatives who are not rent payers or servants.
OFFICER. Any person, whether full-time or part-time, and whether paid or unpaid, who is one of the following:
(1) The Mayor;
(2) A legislative body member;
(3) The City Manager;
(4) The City Clerk;
(5) The Police Chief;
(6) The Fire Chief;
(7) Any other person that occupies a non- elected office created pursuant to KRS 83A.080; or
(8) A member of the governing body of any city agency who has been appointed to the governing body of the agency by the city.
OFFICIAL ACT. Any legislative, administrative, appointive or discretionary act of any officer or employee of the city or any agency, board, committee or commission thereof.
PERSONAL BENEFIT. Benefits other than those that are directly financially advantageous. These include financial benefits to relatives, business associates, as well as non-financial benefits to these people and to oneself, including such things as reputation and the success of one’s career.
PERSONAL INTEREST. A relationship to something such that a personal benefit has been, will be or might be obtained by certain action or inaction with respect to it.
RELATIVE. A spouse, child, step-child, brother, sister, parent or step-parent or a person claimed as a dependent on the officer or employee’s latest individual state income tax return.
SUBORDINATE. Another official or employee over whose activities an official or employee has direction, supervision or control.
TRANSACTION. Any matter, including, but not limited to, contracts, work or business with the city, the sale or purchase of real estate by the city and any request for zoning amendments, variances or special permits pending before the city, upon which a public officer or employee performs an official act or action.
(1984 Code, § 36.03) (Ord. O-51-94, passed 12-29-1994; Ord. O-13-10, passed 5-25-2010; Ord. O-08-18, passed 1-30-2018)