City of Lake Geneva, WI ETHICAL CODE

[Code 1992, § 1.07(3)]

There are certain provisions of the state statutes which should, while not set forth in this section, be considered an integral part of any code of ethics.

(b)

Accordingly, the provisions of the following sections of the state statutes are made a part of this article and shall apply to public officers and public employees, whenever applicable:

(1)

Fair and equal treatment. The principle of fair and equal treatment shall be applied as follows:

Use of public property. No official or employee shall request or permit the unauthorized use of City-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit.

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.

(2)

Conflict of interest. Conflict of interest, financial or personal, shall be avoided as follows:

Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this subsection, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Subsection (b)(2)a, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

FINANCIAL INTEREST

Any interest which shall yield, directly or indirectly, a monetary or other material benefit to the officer or employee or to any person employing or retaining the services of the officer or employee.

PERSON

Any person, corporation, partnership or joint venture.

PERSONAL INTEREST

Any interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or from close business or political associations, whether or not any financial interest is involved.

Financial and personal interest. No official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business or transaction or shall act in regard to financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with 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.

(3)

Specific conflicts enumerated. The following specific conflicts shall be avoided:

Incompatible employment. No official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render service for private interest when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties, unless otherwise permitted by law and unless disclosure is made as provided in Subsection (3)b of this section.

Disclosure of confidential information. No official or employee shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the City, nor shall be use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself or others.

(4)

Representing private interests before City agencies or courts. No officer or employee shall appear on behalf of any private person, other than himself, his spouse or minor children, before any City agency or municipal court without full disclosure of that relationship. However, a member of the City Council may appear before City agencies on behalf of the citizenry in the course of his duties as an elected official, or in the performance of public or civic obligations.

(5)

Disclosure of interest in legislation. Any member of the City Council who has a financial interest or personal interest in any proposed legislation before the City Council shall disclose on the records of the City Council the nature and extent of such interest. Any other official or employee who has a financial or personal interest in any proposed legislative action of the City Council and who participates in discussion with or gives an official opinion or recommendation to the City Council shall disclose on the records of the City Council the nature and extent of such interest.

(6)

Gifts and gratuities. No public officer, elected official or employee shall accept any valuable gift, whether in the form of service, loan, thing or promise from any person which, to his knowledge, is interested, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the City 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. Gifts received under unusual circumstances should be denied or returned immediately or in the most expeditious manner possible. Acceptance of gifts or gratuities shall not be interpreted to mean those social, education, informative or public relations events open to many or all public officers or employees that are not intended to influence them in their official duties.

(7)

Nepotism. No appointing authority shall appoint members of his family to any full-time position, nor shall a supervisor supervise any member of his family. This subsection shall not apply to any person employed and having such relationship prior to September 10, 1990. No collective bargaining agreement shall be concluded or, if concluded, shall be effective to the extent that it violates the intent of this subsection. "Family," for purposes of this policy, includes husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law.