(A) Prohibitions. The following restrictions are applicable to all employees of the village as well as to trainees, students and members of governing or administering boards and advisory committees. The restrictions prohibit:
(1) Serving on or for any political committee, party or similar organization or serving as a delegate or alternate to a caucus or party convention;
(2) Soliciting or handling political contributions, distributing campaign literature, or initiating or circulating political petitions;
(3) Addressing, organizing, or serving as an officer of a political party;
(4) Addressing or taking an active part in preparing, organizing, or conducting a political meeting or rally;
(5) Canvassing a district or soliciting votes or helping to get out voters on election day;
(6) Acting as an election officer in a capacity which may involve partisanship or partisan political management;
(7) Publishing or being connected editorially or managerially with any newspaper generally known as partisan from a political standpoint;
(8) Becoming a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, which is to be filled in an election in which party candidates are involved. Becoming prominently identified with any political movement, party, or faction, or with the success or failure of any candidate for election to public office; and
(9) Writing for publication or publishing any letter or article, signed or unsigned, in favor of or against any political party or candidate.
(B) Exemptions.
(1) The following persons are exempt from the provisions of division (A) above that deal with taking active part in political management or political campaigns:
(a) The Mayor;
(b) Elected heads of executive departments of any municipality who are not classified under a state or municipal merit or Civil Service Commission; and
(c) Officers holding elective offices.
(2) An employee or trainee of the village may:
(a) Register to vote as he or she chooses;
(b) Express his or her opinion on political subjects and candidates;
(c) Be a member of a party or political club;
(d) Make voluntary contributions of money to a political campaign or party;
(e) Participate in educational efforts related to issues and to the political process so long as this is done in a politically neutral manner;
(f) Attend political meetings and rallies;
(g) Display a political sticker on his or her private automobile; and
(h) Village employees may be prohibited from engaging in outside employment during the working day. This prohibition is to be interpreted broadly to include the use of the village's funds, employees, equipment, or any other resources for the personal gain of any individual. Outside employment is permitted provided:
1. It does not interfere with the efficient performance of the employee's duties in his or her village job, does not involve a conflict of interest or conflict with the employee's duties in his or her village job; or
2. It does not occur during the employee's regular or assigned working hours for the village, unless the employee, during the entire day on which such employment occurs has received approval to either on vacation or compensatory leave, or leave without pay.
(3) Employees are encouraged to attend functions given by the village; however, it is not mandatory that they attend. If an employee does not desire to attend any function given by the village, it shall in no way hinder his or her employment or increment status. Employees are not required to inform their employers as to their whereabouts on nonworking days and are allowed to attend whatever they choose so long as it does not conflict with the laws under division (A) above.
(1995 Code, § 37.33) (Ord. 75-53, passed 6-9-1975)