[Ord. No. 09.36 §1, 12-14-2009; Ord. No. 11-23, 8-29-2011; Ord. No.
13-12, 7-8-2013; Ord. No. 15-10, 6-22-2015; Ord. No. 17-18 § 1, 7-24-2017; Ord. No. 17-22, 8-16-2017; Ord. No.
19-30, 8-26-2019; Ord. No. 20-32, 8-24-2020; Ord. No. 21-33, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 23-31, 7-24-2023]
A. Declaration Of Policy. The proper operation of municipal government
requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial,
and responsible to the people; that government decisions and policy
be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that
public office not be used for personal gain; and that the public have
confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of these
goals, there is hereby established a procedure for disclosure by certain
officials and employees of private financial or other interest in
matters affecting the City.
B. Conflicts Of Interest. The Mayor or any member of the Board of Aldermen
who has a substantial personal or private interest, as defined by
State law, in any bill shall disclose on the records of the Board
of Aldermen the nature of his/her interest and shall disqualify himself/herself
from voting on any matters relating to this interest.
C. Disclosure Reports. Each elected official and the City Clerk shall
disclose the following information by May 1 if any such transactions
were engaged in during the previous calendar year:
1.
For such person and all persons within the first degree of consanguinity
or affinity of such person, the date and the identities of the parties
to each transaction with a total value in excess of five hundred dollars
($500.00), if any, that such person had with the political subdivision,
other than compensation received as an employee or payment of any
tax, fee, or penalty due to the political subdivision, and other than
transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision; and
2.
The date and the identities of the parties to each transaction
known to the person with a total value in excess of five hundred dollars
($500.00), if any, that any business entity in which such person had
a substantial interest had with the political subdivision, other than
payment of any tax, fee, or penalty due to the political subdivision
or transactions involving payment for providing utility service to
the political subdivision, and other than transfers for no consideration
to the political subdivision; and
3.
The Mayor and City Clerk shall also disclose by May 1 for the
previous calendar year, the following information:
a.
The name and address of each of the employers of such person
from whom income of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more was received
during the year covered by the statement;
b.
The name and address of each sole proprietorship that he/she
owned; the name, address and the general nature of the business conducted
of each general partnership and joint venture in which he/she was
a partner or participant; the name and address of each partner or
coparticipant for each partnership or joint venture, unless such names
and addresses are filed by the partnership or joint venture with the
Secretary of State; the name and address and general nature of the
business conducted of any closely held corporation or limited partnership
in which the person owned ten percent (10%) or more of any class of
the outstanding stock or limited partnership units; and the name of
any publicly traded corporation or limited partnership that is listed
on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system in which
the person owned two percent (2%) or more of any class of outstanding
stock, limited partnership units, or other equity interests; and
c.
The name and address of each corporation for which such person
served in the capacity of a director, officer, or receiver.
D. Filing Of Reports. The reports shall be filed with the City Clerk
and with the Ethics Commission. The reports shall be available for
public inspection and copying during normal business hours.
E. When Filed. The financial interest statements shall be filed at the
following times, but no person is required to file more than one (1)
financial interest statement in any calendar year:
1.
Each person appointed to office shall file the statement within
thirty (30) days of such appointment or employment.
2.
Every other person required to file a financial interest statement
shall file the statement annually, not later than May 1, and the statement
shall cover the calendar year ending immediately preceding December
31; provided, that any member of the Board of Aldermen may supplement
the financial interest statement to report additional interests acquired
after December 31 of the covered year until the date of filing of
the financial interest statement.
3.
Penalty. Any person obligated to file a financial interest statement
who fails to do so within the time specified shall be subject to a
fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00). In addition to said
fine, any candidate for City elective office who fails to file a financial
interest statement within the time specified shall be subject to disqualification
as a candidate for such elective office. In addition to said fine,
any elected official who fails to file a financial interest statement
within the time frame specified shall be subject to removal from office
under the procedures set forth elsewhere in the City Code.