It is declared that high moral and ethical standards among municipal
public officials and employees are essential to the conduct of free
government. The Village Board has determined that a code of ethics
for the guidance of Village officials and employees will help them
avoid conflicts between their personal interests and their public
responsibilities, will improve standards of public service and will
promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the residents of
the Village in their Village officials and employees. It is the intent
of the Village Board that in its operations, the Village Board shall
protect to the fullest extent possible the rights of individuals affected.
Insofar as applicable to municipal officials, the provisions
of Ch. 19, Subch. III, Wis. Stats., which provides a code of ethics
for public employees at the state level, are hereby adopted as the
code of ethics for municipal officials and employees. Section 19.59,
Wis. Stats., provides for the code of ethics for local government
officials and employees and, upon the adoption of this chapter, is
applicable to the Village.
Pursuant to the requirements of rural development and in contention
with existing state statutes and this chapter, the officers, employees
or agents engaged in the award and administration of contracts supported
by rural development funds shall be fully bound by the provisions
of the state code adopted by the Village by reference. No employee,
officer or agent of the Village shall participate in the selection,
award or administration of a contract supported by rural development
funds if a conflict of interest, real or apparent, would be involved.
Examples of such conflicts would arise when the employee, officer
or agent or any member of the immediate family, his partner or any
organization which employs or are about to employ any of the above
has a financial or other interest in the firm selected for the award.
The owner's officers, employees or agents shall neither solicit
nor accept gratuities, favors or anything of monetary value from contractors,
potential contractors or parties to subagreements.
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be
subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500,
immediate discharge from his position upon conviction, and restitution,
if any, as required.