(a) Interest in Appointments. Canvassing of members of Council, directly or indirectly, in order to obtain preferential consideration in connection with any appointment to the Municipal service shall disqualify the candidate for appointment except with reference to positions filled by appointment by Council.
(b) Use of Public Property. No official or employee shall request or permit the use of City-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or are provided as Municipal policy for the use of such officials or employees in the conduct of official business or except as may otherwise be provided specifically by Council.
(c) Obligation to Residents. No official or employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment or advantage to any resident beyond that which is available to every other resident.
(d) Discrimination in Appointments. No person shall be appointed to or removed from, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to any appointive administrative office because of his/her race, religion, sex, national origin or political opinions or affiliations, if otherwise qualified for the position or office. However, this provision does not impair administrative discretion in determining the requirements of a position or in a job assignment of a person holding such position, subject to review by the merit system authority established for that purpose.
(e) Ex Parte Communications. No official or employee should encourage, make or accept any ex parte or other unilateral application or communication that excludes the interest of other parties in a matter under consideration when such application or communication is designed to influence official decision or conduct or the official himself, herself or other officials, employees or agencies in order to obtain favored treatment or special consideration to advance the personal or private interest of himself/herself or others. The purpose of this provision is to guarantee that all interested parties to any matter have equal opportunity to express and represent their interests. Any written ex parte communication received by an official or employee in matters where all interested parties should have equal opportunity for a hearing should be made part of the record by the recipient.
An oral ex parte communication received under such conditions should be written down in substance by the recipient and also made part of the record.
A communication concerning only the status of a pending matter is not regarded as an ex parte communication.
(Ord. 471. Passed 8-1-78.)