[Ord. 1985-1, 2/13/1985]
The public judges its government by the way public officials
and employees conduct themselves in the posts to which they are elected
or appointed. The people have a right to expect that every public
official and employee will conduct himself in a manner that will tend
to preserve public confidence in and respect for the government he
represents. Such confidence and respect can best be promoted if every
public official and employee, whether paid or unpaid and whether elected
or appointed, will uniformly:
1. Treat all citizens with impartiality, fairness, and equality under
the law.
2. Avoid both actual and potential conflicts between his private self-interest
and the public interest.
[Ord. 1985-1, 2/13/1985]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated.
FINANCIAL INTEREST
Any interest which shall yield, directly or indirectly, a
monetary or other material benefit to the official or employee or
to any person employing or retaining the services of the official
or employee. "Financial interest" shall not include cases where the
official or employee is a party to or is associated with a party to
a transaction with the Township when such official or employee has
no possible influence in the transaction.
OFFICIAL or EMPLOYEE
Any person elected or appointed to, or employed or retained
by, any public office or public body of the Township, whether paid
or unpaid and whether part-time or full-time.
PARTY
A person, firm, corporation, or other entity participating
in or intending to participate in any transaction with the Township
in any manner which would give the person, firm, corporation, or entity
a personal or financial interest in the transaction.
PERSONAL INTEREST
Any interest arising from blood or marriage relationships
or from close business associations, whether or not any financial
interest is involved.
PUBLIC BODY
Any agent, board, body, commission, committee, department,
or office of the Township.
TRANSACTION
Includes but is not limited to any proceeding, application,
submission, request for ruling or other determination, contract, lease,
claim, case award, decision, judgment, or legislation, including ordinances
and resolutions.
[Ord. 1985-1, 2/13/1985]
No official or employee shall grant or make available to any
person any consideration, treatment, advantage, or favor beyond that
which is in the general practice to grant or make available to the
public at large.
[Ord. 1985-1, 2/13/1985]
Every transaction made in violation of the provisions of this
chapter may be voided at the instance of any party to the transaction,
except the official or employee interested therein, upon written election
thereof delivered to the Township Manager before the transaction is
completed or within 90 days after completion. No such transaction
may be voided because of the interest of an official or employee unless
such transaction is made in the official capacity of such official
or employee, by a public body of which he is an official or employee
or on the recommendation of a public body of which he is an official
or employee.
[Ord. 1985-1, 2/13/1985]
Subject to due process of law, any official or employee who
violates any provision of this chapter may be disqualified from being
an appointed official or employee in the Township for four years after
the date of the transaction in which the violation occurs. If the
violation occurs while he is serving as an appointed official, he
may be removed from his position as an appointed official by a majority
vote of the Board of Supervisors subject to procedural and substantive
procedure of law. If the violation occurs while he is serving as an
employee, he may be removed from his position as an employee by the
Township Manager all in accordance with the statutes of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.