The following code of ethics shall apply to all officers and employees of the municipality, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid. By majority vote of the Commissioners, the Commission may vote to censure a member for violating this code. No officer or employee of the Town shall knowingly:
(a) Engage in any business or transaction or have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties;
(b) Engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties, or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties;
(c) Disclose confidential information concerning the property, government, or affairs of the governmental body by which he is employed, without proper legal authorization, or use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself or others;
(d) Accept any valuable gift, whether in the form of service, loan, thing, or promise, from any person, firm, or corporation which to his knowledge is interested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the governmental body by which he is employed; provided, however, that any such officer or employee who is a candidate for public office may accept campaign contributions and services in connection with any such campaign;
(e) Represent private interests in any action or proceeding against the governmental body by which he is employed;
(f) Vote or otherwise participate in the negotiation or the making of any contract involving the Town with any business or entity in which he has a financial interest;
(g) Have any private financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract or matter pending before or within any department of the Town, [and if so] shall disclose such private interest on the records of the Commission, and shall disqualify himself from participating in any decision or vote relating thereto;
(h) Use property owned by such governmental body for personal benefit, convenience, or profit except in accordance with policies of the Commission; or
(i) Violate the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees or the Florida Election Code, as set forth in Florida Statutes, and implementing rules thereof, and if a Town officer or employee has been found to have violated the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees by the Florida Commission on Ethics or the Florida Election Code by the Florida Elections Commission, or implementing rules thereof, he or she may be censured by the Town Commission.
(Adopted by electorate 11-6-73; Amendment adopted by the electorate 11-2-04)