Every officer and employee of the county and every county agency shall comply with the following standards of conduct.
(A) No officer or employee, or any immediate family member of any officer or employee, shall have an interest in a business or engage in any business, transaction or activity which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of the officer’s or employee’s public duties.
(B) No officer or employee shall intentionally use or attempt to use his or her official position with the county to secure unwarranted privileges or advantages for himself or herself or others.
(C) No officer or employee shall intentionally take or refrain from taking any discretionary action, or agree to take or refrain from taking any discretionary action, or induce or attempt to induce any other officer or employee to take or refrain from taking any discretionary action, on any matter before the county in order to obtain a financial benefit for any of the following:
(1) The officer or employee;
(2) A family member;
(3) An outside employer;
(4) Any business in which the officer or employee, or any family member has a financial interest; or
(5) Any business with which the officer or employee or any family member is negotiating or seeking prospective employment or other business or professional relationship.
(D) No officer or employee shall be deemed in violation of any provision in this section if, by reason of the officer’s or employee’s participation, vote, decision, action or inaction, no financial benefit accrues to the officer or employee, a family member, an outside employer or a business as defined in division (C)(4) and (C)(5) above, as a member of any business, occupation, profession or other group, to any greater extent than any gain could reasonably be expected to accrue to any other member of the business, occupation, profession or other group.
(E) Every officer or employee who has a prohibited financial interest which the officer or employee believes or has reason to believe may be affected by his or her participation, vote, decision or other action taken within the scope of his or her public duties shall disclose the precise nature and value of the interest to the governing body of the county or county agency served by the officer or employee, and the disclosure shall be entered on the official record of the proceedings of the governing body. The officer or employee shall refrain from taking any action with respect to the matter that is the subject of the disclosure.
(Ord. 94-130.1, passed 12-12-1994) Penalty, see § 31.99