(a) Ohio Revised Code. The ethical requirements for elected officials and public employees are set forth in Chapter 102 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(b) Filing of Disclosure Statements.
(1) "Compensation" means money, thing of value, or financial benefit.
(2) Duty to File Disclosure Statement with Human Resource Commission. All unclassified employees and any other employee as designated by the Human Resource Commission ("HRC") and recommended to Council shall file an annual financial disclosure statement with the HRC on a form prescribed by the HRC.
(3) Contents of Disclosure Statement. The annual financial disclosure statement shall contain:
A. The name of the person filing the statement and the name of members of the reporting party's immediate family and all names under which such persons or members of his/her family conduct business.
B. Identification of every source of income received by the reporting person during the preceding calendar year and a description of the nature of the services rendered. Such statement shall disclose the identity of any person and/or firm from whom the reporting person received income. This section is not intended to cause the disclosure of information made confidential by a recognized code of ethics applicable to the profession of the reporting party or the reporting party's spouse.
C. The names of all persons residing or transacting business in the State to whom the reporting party owes more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), excluding debts relating to personal residence, vehicles, student loans, VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover or major retail store credit.
D. The source of each gift of more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) in value received during the preceding calendar year, excluding gifts from a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle or in-law.
(4) Filing.
A. The disclosure statements required under this section shall be filed by April 15 of each calendar year, beginning April 15, 2000.
B. No person required to file a disclosure statement shall purposely fail to file a statement or purposely fail to disclose information required to be disclosed.
(5) Penalties.
A. If a financial disclosure statement required under this section is not timely filed, the Human Resource Commission may, following notice and a hearing, assess a late fee as follows:
1. For employees who are in substantial compliance with this section and/or the Rules of the Human Resource Commission, up to five dollars ($5.00) per day for each calendar day on which the report was not timely filed.
2. For employees who are not in substantial compliance with this section and/or the Rules of the Human Resource Commission, up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day for each calendar day on which the report was not timely filed.
B. Violation of this section shall subject the official or employee to disciplinary action up to and including termination as determined by the Human Resource Commission.
(6) A. The Human Resource Commission shall examine each disclosure statement to determine whether a potential conflict of interest exists for the person who filed the disclosure statement. A potential conflict of interest exists if the private interest of the person, as indicated by the disclosure statement, interferes with the public interest the person is required to service in the exercise of the person's office or position with the County. If the Human Resource Commission determines that a potential conflict of interest exists, it shall notify the person who filed the disclosure statement and shall arrange for a formal hearing at the next scheduled Human Resource Commission meeting unless that meeting has been scheduled to occur less than two weeks from the date of notice. If the notice is provided less than two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting, then the hearing will take place at the following scheduled Human Resource Commission meeting. If it is determined at the hearing that a conflict of interest exists, the Human Resource Commission shall notify the appointing authority and refer the matter to the Ohio Ethics Commission.
B. The officials or employees filing a Disclosure Statement shall provide any additional information and/or clarification on their Disclosure Statement to any reasonable request made by the Human Resource Commission. Failure to submit the required information within ten calendar days shall subject the official or employee to a fine of five dollars ($5.00) per day for each calendar day that the information is not submitted to the Human Resource Commission.
C. The disclosure of financial disclosure statements to the public shall be governed by Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code, as amended.
(7) Rules.
A. The Human Resource Commission shall deposit all funds collected pursuant to this section into the General Fund of the County.
B. The Human Resource Commission shall make all rules necessary to carry out this section.
(c) Prohibition 0f Outside Employment for Certain Officials/Employees.
(1) Definitions.
A. “Outside employment" means work outside an official's or employee's employment with the County of Summit government, whether it be as an employee, independent contractor, consultant or owner, for which compensation is paid.
B. "Compensation" means money, thing of value or financial benefit. Compensation does not include reimbursement for the actual or necessary expenses incurred as a volunteer.
C. "Designated County official or employee", as used in this section shall refer to the following positions with the County:
1. Chief of Staff, Executive.
2. Assistant Chief of Staff, Executive.
3. Director, Department of Law and Risk Management
4. Director, Department of Sanitary Sewer Services.
5. Director, Department of Finance and Budget.
6. Director, Department of Job and Family Services.
7. Assistant Director , Department of Job and Family Services.
8. Director, Department of Communications.
9. Medical Examiner.
10. Director, Department of Community and Economic Development.
11. Director, Department of Human Resources.
12. Director, Department of Administrative Services.
13. Director, Department of Public Safety.
14. Director, Human Resource Commission.
15. Chief of Staff, Council.
16. Chief of Staff, Fiscal Office.
17. Deputy Fiscal Officer, Finance.
18. Software Engineering Administrator.
19. Chief of Staff, Clerk of Courts.
20. Chief Deputies, Clerk of Courts.
21. Chief Counsel, Civil Division, Prosecutor's Office.
22. Chief Counsel, Criminal Division, Prosecutor's Office.
23. Director of the Child Support Enforcement Agency.
24. Assistant Sheriffs.
25. Chief Deputy Fiscal Officer, Fiscal Office.
26. Chief Deputies, Engineer.
27. General Counsel for Engineer.
28. Director of Internal Auditing.
20. Assistant Director of the Department of Internal Auditing
30. Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Auditing.
31. HRC Administrator.
32. Chief Information Officer.
(d) Prohibition Against Outside Employment. No designated County official or employee as defined in this section may hold outside employment if either of the following applies:
(1) The employment is with or for a person or entity which has a contract with or does business with the County; or
(2) The employment is with or for a person or entity that is funded in whole or in part with County funds.
(e) Penalties. Violation of this section shall subject the official or employee to disciplinary action up to and including termination, as determined by the Human Resource Commission.
(Ord. 2008-72. Adopted 3-17-08; Ord. 2008-481. Adopted 12-1-08; Ord. 2008-482. Adopted 12-1-08; Ord. 2011-075. Adopted 3-7-11; Ord. 2011-254. Adopted 6-20-11; Ord. 2011-380. Adopted 11-7-11; Ord. 2015-215. Adopted 5-11-15; Ord. 2015-555. Adopted 12-14-15; Ord. 2018-236. Adopted 6-18-18; Ord. 2021-346. Adopted 11-22-21.)