(A) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST. Any occurrence in which an official or employee of the city benefits by direct payment of funds, the conveyance of real property or the conveyance of goods or chattels from the city to the official or employee of the city, or any instrumentality in which the official or employee holds in total or by a majority interest.
EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY. Any person holding employment with the city appointed to said employment under the appointment authority of the City Manager, or any person holding employment with the city by the direct action of the City Council.
INDIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST. Any occurrence in which an official or employee of the city benefits by indirect payment of funds, the conveyance of real property or the conveyance of goods or chattels from the city to the official or employee of the city or any instrumentality in which the official or employee holds in total or by a majority interest that in its effect is substantively the same as a direct financial interest.
OFFICIAL OF THE CITY. Any person elected to a public office or appointed to a public office, which under customary circumstances is an elected office, or any office by which an appointment is made to any board or commission of the city.
(B) Any official or employee of the city is hereby required to disclose in writing to the members of the City Council and the City Manager any direct or indirect financial interest in any action of the city immediately upon the official or employee of the city becoming aware of said direct or indirect financial interest.
(C) Any official of the city shall abstain from voting upon any matter in which the official possesses a direct or indirect financial interest.
(D) Any employee of the city shall not participate in any deliberation or execute any action in which the employee possesses a direct or indirect financial interest, save a contract of employment with the city or the deliberation upon or execution of a collective bargaining agreement with the city.
(E) This section shall not be construed to supersede any provision of the Ohio Revised Code that places upon the official or employee of the city a more stringent standard for direct or indirect financial interest or conflict of interest.
(F) In determining the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code concerning conflict of interest, the written opinion(s) of the Ohio Ethics Commission shall be deemed authoritative and final for the purposes of this section, but shall not be considered to relieve any official or employee of the city from any additional disclosure requirements of this section or any applicable provisions of the Ohio Revised Code.
(G) If any official or employee of the city obtains a written statement from the Ohio Ethics Commission or other appropriate instrumentality to the matter in question of the State of Ohio or the Federal Government of the United States of America that determines that a conflict of interest does not exist in a particular matter, then the official or employee may exercise their respective authority in the matter in question to their fullest extent, so long as the official or employee of the city complies with the disclosure requirements of this section and provides the members of the City Council and the City Manager the written statement of the Ohio Ethics Commission, the instrumentality of the State of Ohio or the Federal Government of the United States of America that pertains to the issue.
(Ord. 1-2004, passed 2-11-04)