[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Edgewater 3-19-1968 by Ord. No. 484 (Ch. 37 of the 1975 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
OFFICIAL
Includes the Mayor and Councilmen; Borough Clerk, Borough Treasurer, Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Borough Attorney, Borough Engineer, Borough Auditor and the assistant or assistants to any of them; and any other elected or appointed official of any board, commission or agency and advisory board, whether paid or unpaid, created by the Mayor or the governing body of the Borough of Edgewater.
No official, 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 interest or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties.
No official shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment 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.
No official shall represent private interests before the Borough Council or before any board, commission or agency of the Borough. He shall not represent private interests in any action or proceeding against the interests of the Borough in any litigation to which the Borough is a party.
Any official who has a financial interest in any transaction or contract with the Borough, or in the sale or purchase of real estate, materials, supplies or services to or from the Borough, shall make known to the Mayor and Council in writing 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, sale or purchase.
A. 
No Councilman or member of the governing body or of any agency thereof shall vote for the adoption or defeat of any legislation or for the payment or nonpayment of any indebtedness owing or allegedly owing by the Borough in which he has any financial or other personal interest direct or indirect, nor shall any official recommend or lobby for the adoption or defeat of any legislation or for the institution or defeat of any legal or quasi-legal action whatever in which he has or may have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect.
B. 
Any official who has or may have such interest in such legislation, indebtedness or action, and who participates in discussion with or gives an official opinion to the Borough Council or agency with respect thereto, shall disclose on the records of the Borough Council or agency the nature and extent of such interest.
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Edgewater is hereby created as a Board of Ethics under this chapter and said Board shall render advisory opinions with respect to any question arising under this Code of Ethics. Such opinions shall be rendered upon written request of the official concerned with the possible violation of the terms and conditions herein set forth.