[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Montello 5-7-1984 as Title 2, Ch. 8 of the 1984 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people. The purpose of this chapter is to establish ethical standards of conduct for all such officials and to direct disclosure by such officials of private financial or other interests in matters affecting the City.
B. 
The municipal officials and employees of the City, whether elected or appointed, are "public officials and employees" within the meaning and intent of this chapter.
A. 
Public officials and employees are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the public interest must be their primary concern. Their conduct in both their official and private affairs shall be above reproach.
B. 
Public officials are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state and to carry out impartially the law of the nation, state and municipality.
Public officials and employees shall not exceed their authority or breach law or ask others to do so, and they shall work in full cooperation with other public officials and employees unless prohibited from doing so by law or by officially recognized confidentiality of their work.
A. 
Use of public property. No public official or employee shall request, use or permit the use of City-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or are provided as municipal policy for the use of such official or employee in the conduct of official business.
B. 
Obligation of citizen. No public official or employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.
A. 
No Alderman or other public official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business or transaction or shall have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties in the public judgment or will tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties. "Personal" as distinguished from "financial" interest includes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or close business or political association.
B. 
Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance of officials. The following list is illustrative merely and not exclusive.
(1) 
Incompatible employment. No Alderman or other public official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties or tends to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties. In the event an Alderman, official or employee possesses a financial or personal interest in any business or transaction, any presumption of conflict of interest with his public duties shall be removed by his disclosure of the nature and extent of such investment to the Common Council for the records of that authority.
(2) 
Disclosure of confidential information. No Alderman, other public official or employee shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the City, nor shall he use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself or others.
(3) 
Gifts and favors. No Alderman or other public official or employee shall accept any gift having a value greater than $5, whether in the form of service, loan, thing or promise, from any person who to his knowledge is interested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the City, nor shall any such official or employee accept any gift, favor or thing of value that may tend to influence him in the discharge of his duties, or grant in the discharge of his duties any improper favor, service or thing of value. Any Alderman or other public official or employee who accepts any gift, favor or thing of value shall, in the case of an Alderman, disclose the matter in the minutes of the next Council meeting and, in the case of other officials or employees, report the matter to the Council for disclosure in the minutes of the next meeting.
(4) 
Representing private interests before City agencies or courts. No Alderman or other public official or employee whose salary is paid in whole or in part by the City shall appear in behalf of private interests before any agency of the City. He shall not represent private interests in any action or proceeding against the interest of the City in any litigation to which the City is a party.
(5) 
Contracts with the City. Any Alderman or other public official or employee who has substantial financial interest in any business entity entering into or proposing to enter into any transaction or contract with the City for the sale of real estate, material supplies or services to the City shall disclose such interest to the Common Council to be reported in the minutes of the appropriate Council meeting, and in the case of a Alderman he shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating (except in the performance of a ministerial act) in the transaction or the making of such contract or sale.
(6) 
Disclosure of interest in legislation.
(a) 
An Alderman who has a financial or other private interest in any legislation shall disclose on the records of the Council the nature and extent of such interest. This provision shall not apply if the Alderman disqualified himself from voting.
(b) 
Any other public official or employee who has a financial or other private interest and who participates in discussion with or gives an official opinion to the Council shall disclose on the record of the Council the nature and extent of such interest.
Violation of any provision of this chapter should raise conscientious question for the Alderman or any other official or employee concerned as to whether voluntary resignation or other action is indicated to promote the best interest of the City. Violation may constitute a cause for suspension, removal from office or employment, or other disciplinary action.