(A) Ethics policy.
(1) It is the policy of the city that officials and employees perform their duties for the benefit of the citizens of the city and conduct the operations of the city with loyalty, integrity, and impartiality, without allowing prejudice, favoritism, or the opportunity for personal gain to influence their decisions or actions, or to interfere with serving the public interest.
(2) The purpose of this policy is to establish legal and ethical standards of conduct for all officials and employees, and to require disclosures by all officials and employees of personal or financial interests in matters that may affect the city.
(B) Application. This policy shall apply to all officials and all employees.
(C) Impartiality; non-discrimination. While performing official duties, no official or employee shall grant or make available to any person any consideration, treatment, advantage, or favor beyond that which is the city policy to grant or make available to the public at large, without the prior written approval of the Mayor. No official or employee shall discriminate against any person in violation of state of federal law or regulation or city ordinances.
(D) Representation. Except in the performance of his or her official duties, no official or employee shall represent any individual petitioner other than the city or himself or herself before the Common Council, a commission, a board, or a committee of the city.
(E) Bid acceptance by department heads.
(1) All bids for work to be completed by a third-party will be received by the Clerk-Treasurer and opened in public view at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.
(2) Non-sealed bids or bids sent via email for projects to be completed by a third-party will not be accepted by the department head.
(3) All project bids will be accepted and processed in accordance with applicable state law provisions and city ordinances.
(F) Financial or personal interest disclosure.
(1) No official or employee, either on behalf of themselves or on behalf of any other person, shall have any financial or personal interest in any business or transaction with an public body, unless such official or employee makes full public disclosure of the nature and extent of such financial or personal interest and, if the circumstances so require, disqualifies himself or herself from participating in the business or transaction. In the event the aforementioned financial or personal interest of such official or employee is determined to be ethical and not a violation of state law, then prior to any vote on the business or transaction, the applicable public body shall require the employee or official to fully disclose the substance prior to the vote.
(2) If an official or employee believes that he or she has a potential conflict of interest, such official or employee shall file a written public disclosure form with the Clerk-Treasurer prior to the final approval of any business or transaction by the applicable public body. After submission of the public disclosure form, discussion of the nature of the conflict shall then be scheduled for review at the next public meeting of the public body of which that individual is a member.
(3) If a potential conflict of interest arises during an approving bodies consideration of a transaction or business, that member shall declare that a conflict may or does exist, and shall immediately disqualify himself or herself from participating and acting on that matter.
(4) If covered by this policy is unsure as to the existence or non-existence of a conflict of interest, that individual may seek an advisory opinion from the City Attorney. The opinions rendered shall be advisory only, and shall not serve to exempt or excuse any employee or officer from applicable penal or civil statutes, ordinances, and regulations. The City Attorney shall give prompt notice to the Mayor of a receipt of any such request.
(Ord. 2013-7, passed 8-28-2013)