All County officials shall adhere to the following standards of conduct:
(a) Responsibilities of Public Office. Public officials and employees are agents of the public purpose and serve for the benefit of the public. They shall uphold and adhere to the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of California, the Charter of the County of San Bernardino, rules, regulations and policies of the County, and shall carry out impartially the laws of the Nation, State, and County. In their official acts, they shall discharge faithfully their duties, recognizing that the public interest is paramount. All Public officials and employees must demonstrate the highest standards of morality and ethics consistent with the requirements of their position and consistent with the law.
(b) Dedicated Service. In the performance of their duties, all officials and employees shall support governmental objectives expressed by the electorate and the County programs developed to attain these objectives. Officials and employees shall adhere to work rules and performance standards established for their positions by the County. The County requires all officials and employees to use good manners, to be considerate, to be accurate and truthful in statement and to exercise sound judgment in the performance of their work. During the hours covered by active County employment, no official or employee shall work for any other employer or agency, and neither conduct nor pursue any unauthorized activity for remuneration. Officials and employees shall neither exceed their authority nor breach the law nor ask others to do so. They shall work in full cooperation with other public officials and employees unless prohibited from so doing by law or by officially recognized confidentiality of the work.
(c) Nondiscrimination. No official shall grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any person beyond that which is available to every other person in similar circumstance. No person shall be favored or discriminated against with respect to any appointment in the County service because of family or social relationships, sex, race, religion, national origin, marital status, age, physical handicap, political opinion or political affiliation.
(d) Confidential Information. As appropriate, every official shall make known to subordinates which information is regarded as confidential. No official or employee shall neither disclose such confidential information except as authorized or required by law or office nor otherwise use such information for personal gain or benefit. All personnel records shall be confidential except when disclosure is required by law.
(e) Use of Public Property. Officials are prohibited from using County-owned equipment, materials, or property for personal benefit or profit unless specifically authorized by the Board of Supervisors as an element of compensation. Officials are prohibited from using public resources or their public office in any manner that would be a violation of Government Code § 8314.
(Am. Ord. 4096, passed - - 2009)