[Adopted 11-1-2006 by Ord. No. 1703 (§ 2-44
of the 1987 Code)]
The governing body of the Borough of Highland
Park declares that a policy regulating conflicts of interest be enacted.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person, whether compensated or not, whether part-time
or full-time: elected to any office of a local government agency;
serving on a local government agency which has the authority to enact
ordinances, approve development applications or grant zoning variances;
who is a member of an independent municipal, county or regional authority;
or who is a managerial, executive or confidential employee of a local
government agency as defined in Section 3 of the New Jersey Employer-Employee
Relations Act,[1] but shall not mean any employee of a school district or
member of a school board.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 34:13A-3.
A.
Borough government officers or employees are permitted
to give or receive a gift from a coworker, supervisor, subordinate
or government officer. The gifts should not be excessive or inappropriate
for a business environment and should not exceed $25 in value. All
gifts must be registered with the Ethics Board.
B.
Local government officers and employees of Highland
Park cannot accept gifts or honorarium of more than a nominal value,
up to $25, related in any way to official duties. Local government
officers and employees of Highland Park are required to disclose any
offer or receipt of a thing of value from any person or entity to
the Highland Park Ethics Board.
C.
A local government officer or employee of Highland
Park may accept an award or other honor given by a charitable or civic
group because of the official or employee's public service, provided
the official or employee accepts no monetary award, honorarium or
stipend or other thing of value other than a plaque, trophy, or other
commemorative item of nominal value and provided attendance at any
event or function at which the award is made is in accordance with
the Borough's Code of Ethics Board prior to the acceptance of the
award. In addition, an employee must notify his or her supervisor
and an appointed official must notify the Borough Council prior to
the acceptance of the award.
D.
No local government officer or employee of Highland
Park shall accept reimbursement from any source other than Highland
Park for expenses associated with attendance at an event sponsored
by a person or organization. However, subject to the approval of the
Highland Park Ethics Board, this prohibition need not apply if the
event is designed to provide training, dissemination of information,
or the exchange of ideas, and the official or employee is making a
speech, is participating in a panel at the event, or is an accompanying
resource person for the speaker and/or participant.
E.
Any local government officer or a family member of
any such person, who owns or controls more than 10% of an equity interest
in a business organization, excluding nonprofits, then that business
shall be prohibited from doing business with the Borough of Highland
Park.
F.
Employees are prohibited from engaging in outside
employment activities while on the job or using Borough time, equipment
or supplies in the outside employment activities. The Borough Administrator
may request employees to restrict outside employment if the quality
of Borough work diminishes on account of the outside employment. Any
employee who holds an interest in, or is employed by any business
doing business with the Borough must submit a written notice of these
outside interests to the Borough Administrator.
G.
No local government officer or employee shall undertake
any employment or service, whether compensated or not, which might
reasonably be expected to prejudice his or her independence or judgment
in the exercise of his or her official duties.
H.
No local government officer or employee of the Borough
shall hire or contract with a subordinate Borough employee for private
employment.
I.
No local government officer, including any County
Freeholder or legislative representative, or any employee shall appear
before any Borough Court, Board or commission and/or derive any benefit
therefrom.