155.01 Declaration of policy.
155.02 Responsibilities of public office.
155.03 Dedicated service.
155.04 Fair and equal treatment.
155.05 Conflict of interest.
155.06 Incompatible employment.
155.07 Confidential information.
155.08 Gifts; favors.
155.09 Representing private interests before City agencies or courts.
155.10 Contracts with the City.
155.11 Disclosure of interest in legislation.
155.12 Political activity.
155.13 Applicability.
CROSS REFERENCE
Conflict of interest - see CHTR. Art. X, Sec. 1; Ohio R.C. 2921,42 and 2921.43, GEN.OFF. Sec 525.10
(a) The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that government decisions of policy be made in proper channels of governmental structure; that public office not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established a Code of Ethics for all officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid. The purpose of this Code is to establish ethical standards of conduct for all such officials and employees by setting forth those acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the City.
(b) The provisions and purpose of this Code and such rules and regulations as may be established are hereby declared to be in the best interests of the City.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Ohio and the Charter and laws of the City; and to carry out impartially the laws of the nation, the State and the City and thus to foster respect for all government. They are bound to observe in their official acts, highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the public interest must be their primary concern. Their conduct in both their official and their private affairs should be above reproach.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
All officials and employees of the City should be loyal to the political objectives expressed by the electorate and the programs developed to maintain those objectives. Appointed officials and employees should adhere to the rules of work and performance established for their positions by the appropriate authority.
Officials and employees should not exceed their authority, or breach the law or ask others to do so, and they should work in full cooperation with other public officials and employees unless prohibited from doing so by law or by officially recognized confidentiality of their work.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
It shall be prohibited to canvass members of Council, either directly or indirectly, in order to obtain preferential treatment in connection with any appointment except with reference to positions filled by appointment by Council.
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 official or employee in the conduct of official business. No official or employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
No official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business or transaction or have a financial or personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties without first making a public disclosure thereof and then abstaining from voting thereon. Personal, as distinguished from financial interest, includes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or close business or political association.
Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance of officials and employees:
SPECIFIC CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
(a) Holding a position in addition to a public position which interferes, or may interfere, with the proper discharge of the public duty.
(b) Use of confidential information, obtained as a result of public position, for personal gain.
(c) Acceptance of or soliciting of gifts and/or favors by a public official or employee.
(d) Any use of official position for personal gain.
(e) Holding (possession) investments which interfere, or tend to interfere, with proper discharge of public duty.
(f) Representation by public officials or employees of private interests before government agencies, courts or legislative bodies, and participation in the profits from such representation.
(g) Participation in transactions as a public representative with a business entity in which the public official or employee has a direct or indirect financial or other personal interest.
(h) Personal interest in legislation to the extent that private interest takes precedence over public interest or duty.
(i) Entry into contracts or other conduct of business for profit by a business in which a public official or employee has a substantial or controlling interest, especially when the public official or employee can influence such contract or business because of his public position.
(j) Soliciting or obtaining future employment with a business doing business with the City over which the public official or employee has some control in his official capacity at the time of the transaction.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
No official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with proper discharge of his official duties or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
No official or employee of the City shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, the government or the affairs of the City, nor shall he use such information to advance the financial or other private interests of himself or others.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
No official or employee of the City shall accept any valuable gift, favor or thing of value that may tend to influence him in the proper discharge of his duties, or grant in the discharge of his duties any improper favor, service or thing of value.
(Ord. 150-66. Passed 3-27-67.)
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