[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Tinicum 8-18-2003 by Ord. No. 766. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Officers and employees — See Ch. 14.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Township of Tinicum Code of Ethics."
The proper operation of Township government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that governmental decisions and policy be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that public office and employment not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government and its employees. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established a Code of Ethics for all officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, or paid or unpaid. The purpose of this code is to establish ethical standards of conduct for all such officials and employees by setting forth those acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the Township and by directing full disclosure by such officials and employees of all private financial, political, personal or other interests in matters affecting the Township. The provisions and purpose of this code and such rules and regulations as are hereby established are declared to be in the best interests of the Township of Tinicum.
Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state and to carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state and municipality and thus, to foster respect for all government. They 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 should be above reproach.
A. 
Officials and employees should adhere to the rules of work and performance established as the standard for their positions by the appropriate authority.
B. 
Officials and employees shall under no circumstances exceed their authority or breach the law or ask others to do so, and they shall work in full cooperation with other public officials and employees where so directed by the appropriate Township authority, unless prohibited from so doing by law or by officially recognized confidentiality of their work.
A. 
Interest in appointments. Canvassing of members of the Board of Commissioners or the Township Manager, directly or indirectly, in order to obtain preferential consideration in connection with any appointment to the municipal service, except with reference to positions filled by appointment by the Commissioners, shall be reported to the full Board of Commissioners, with a full explanation of the details related to such contact.
B. 
Use of public property. No official or employee shall request or permit the use of Township-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally.
C. 
Obligations to citizens. No 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 official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business transaction or shall have a financial or other interest, direct or indirect, which in any way involves the proper discharge of his official duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties.
B. 
Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance of officials and employees:
(1) 
Incompatible employment. No official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service would conflict or interfere with or influence him in the proper discharge of his official duties or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties. This includes taking action in matters where there is a promise of future business arising from the action taken, of a reciprocal nature or otherwise.
(2) 
Disclosure of confidential information. No official or employee shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the Township, nor shall he use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself or others.
(3) 
Gifts and favors. No official or employee shall accept any gift or promise of future benefit, whether in the form of service, loan, thing or promise, from any person, firm or corporation which to his knowledge is interested, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the Township; 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. Casual business luncheons, dinners or refreshments shall not constitute a "gift" within the meaning of this subsection.
(4) 
Representing private interests before boards, commissions or judicial bodies.
(a) 
No official or employee whose salary is paid in whole or in part by the Township shall render advice, consult with or appear in behalf of private interests before any board, commission or judicial body where the Township is involved directly and the interest of the party is adverse to the position of the Township.
(b) 
A Commissioner or other official may appear before Township boards, commissions and authorities on behalf of constituents in the course of his duties as a representative of the electorate or in the performance of public or civic obligations. However, no Commissioner or other official or employee shall accept compensation for such appearance or representation.
(5) 
Contracts with the Township. Any official or employee who has any financial interest in any business entity, transaction or contract with the Township or in the sale or rental of real estate, materials, supplies or services to the Township shall make known to the Board of Commissioners such interest in any matter on which he may be called to act in his official capacity. He shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in the transaction or the making of such contract or sale.
(6) 
Disclosure of interest.
(a) 
Any Township official or any Township employee who has a financial or other private interest in any legislation either pending or proposed on which the Township will take any action or make any recommendation shall disclose on the records of the Board and other appropriate authority the nature and extent of such interest.
(b) 
Any other official or employee who has a financial or other private interest and who participates in discussion with or gives an official opinion to the Board shall disclose on the records of the Board and other appropriate authority the nature and extent of such interest.
A. 
No Township official or employee shall utilize Township facilities, equipment or supplies, directly or indirectly, in political campaigns or to the benefit of any political candidate, except where such Township facilities are available to the general public for rent.
B. 
No Township employee shall during working hours or when on Township business take part in any political activity or solicit any contribution or subscription to any political party or candidate.
C. 
No official or employee, whether elected or appointed, shall promise an appointment to any municipal position as a reward for any political activity.
A. 
There is hereby created an Ethics Board, to consist of five members, who shall serve without compensation of any kind.
B. 
The membership of the Ethics Board shall be four Tinicum citizen members and the President of the Board of Commissioners. The Township Manager and Township Solicitor shall provide necessary staff assistance as requested by the Board, but shall have no vote.
C. 
The citizen members of the Ethics Board shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Terms of office shall be four years, except that when the initial appointments are made, two of the members shall be appointed for two years and the two others for four years.
D. 
The Ethics Board shall annually elect its own Chairman and Vice Chairman and shall develop written rules of procedures which shall be submitted to the Board of Commissioners for approval. The Ethics Board shall also name a secretary, who need not be a member of the Board.
E. 
The Ethics Board may make recommendations with respect to amendments to this Code of Ethics.
F. 
The Ethics Board shall receive and initiate complaints of violations of the Code of Ethics, shall hear and investigate complaints and transmit the findings and all supporting documentation, evidence and testimony to the Board of Commissioners, and shall render advisory opinions or interpretations with respect to application of the code. The findings on written charges or complaints shall be a public record and shall be signed by the Ethics Board and formally filed with the Board of Commissioners.
G. 
The Ethics Board will meet at the call of the Chairman and shall act only on submission of written charges or complaints filed by an identified individual who shall sign such charges.
When a Commissioner or other official or employee has doubts as to the applicability of a provision of this code to a particular situation, he may apply to the Ethics Board for an advisory opinion. The Commissioner or other official or employee shall have the opportunity to present his interpretation of the facts at issue and of the applicable provision(s) of the code before such advisory decision is made. This code shall be operative in all instances covered by its provisions except when superseded by an applicable statutory or charter provision and statutory or charter action is mandatory, or when the application of a statutory or charter provision is discretionary but determined by the Board of Commissioners to be more appropriate or desirable.
Violation of any provisions of this code may constitute a cause for suspension, removal from office or employment or other disciplinary action to be invoked under applicable law by the Board of Commissioners.