a. Gifts/Gratuities.
1. No official or employee shall solicit personal gift(s) from any entity with which the Town does business unless the gift of donation is for a charitable or non-profit agency. Unsolicited gifts may be accepted and kept by an official or employee if the gift is in the amount of fifty dollars )$50.00) or less. All gifts with an estimated monetary value of more than fifty dollars ($50.00) are given to the Town of Schererville and must remain Town property. All gifts received are reportable, and are to be recorded in the Office of the Town Clerk-Treasurer noting a description of the gift, donor of the gift, date of the giving of the gift, and location/use of the gift. This record shall be open to public inspection.
2. The acceptance of items of a general advertising nature (i.e., the item must be clearly marked with company advertising logos) are acceptable. Any general advertising item having an estimated retail value of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more must be reported to the Office of the Town Clerk-Treasurer which will maintain a record of the description of the item, donor of the gift, and the date of the giving of the gift. This record shall be open to public inspection.
b. Meals. A meal which occurs in the pursuit of normal day-to-day business is considered a simple courtesy. Meals that are a result of business discussions that extend into/during/or beyond working hours are a normal part of doing business. Meals that occur when an official or employee accepts an invitation to visit a business facility or in which the discussions extend into or beyond normal working hours are also normal parts of doing business. All meals of an estimated monetary value of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more will be recorded in the Office of the Town Clerk-Treasurer noting a description of the meal, who paid for the meal, and the date of the meal. This record shall be open to public inspection.
c. Entertainment.
1. Any entertainment which occurs in the pursuit of normal day-to-day business is considered a simple courtesy as are activities that are a result of business discussions which extend into/during/or beyond working hours considered a part of doing business. Activities that occur when an official or employee accepts an invitation to visit a business facility and in which the discussions extend into or beyond normal working hours are also part of normal business relationships. Each official or employee who participates in entertainment exceeding an estimated monetary value of fifty dollars ($50.00) will have such event recorded in the Office of Town Clerk-Treasurer, noting a description of the entertainment, who paid for the entertainment, date of the entertainment, and the purpose of the entertainment. This record shall be open to public inspection. No gifts shall be accepted when ongoing contractual negotiations are being conducted and are in process.
2. Invitations to functions of a general nature, rather than specific or individual nature, where a business sponsors and pays for clients from multiple businesses or governmental agencies, may be accepted. For example, if a business sponsors a training course, seminar, golf outing, sporting event admission or banquet for clients from multiple government entities, then these offers may be accepted. However, an official or employee must report all participation to the Town Clerk-Treasurer of any event exceeding an estimated monetary value of fifty dollars ($50.00). The reported participation will be recorded in the Office of the Town Clerk-Treasurer, and will be open for public inspection during business hours. Any additional offers of hospitality from businesses such as paid lodging, transportation, etc. shall be declined.
d. Campaign Contributions. An official or employee may accept campaign contributions reported in full compliance with any applicable federal and state statutes, and local Town ordinances.
(Ord. No. 1726, § 3, 1-17-08; Ord. No. 1750, § 3, 2-29-09)