The following definitions shall be applicable in this chapter:
ANYTHING OF VALUE
Any gift, favor, loan, service or promise of future employment,
but does not include reasonable fees and honorariums, or the exchange
of seasonal, anniversary or customary gifts among relatives and friends.
BUSINESS
Any corporation, partnership, proprietorship, firm, enterprise,
franchise, association, organization, self-employed individual or
any other legal entity which engages in profit-making activities.
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.
PERSONAL INTEREST
The following specific blood or marriage relationships:
A.
A person's spouse, mother, father, child, brother or sister;
or
B.
A person's relative by blood or marriage who receives, directly
or indirectly, more than 1/2 of his/her support from such person or
from whom such person receives, directly or indirectly, more than
1/2 of his/her support.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
Any person excluded from the definition of a public official
who is employed by the Town.
PUBLIC OFFICIAL
Those persons serving a statutory elected or appointed office
provided for in Ch. 60 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and all members
appointed to boards, committees and commissions established or appointed
by the Chairperson and/or Town Board pursuant to this Code, whether
paid or unpaid.
SIGNIFICANT INTEREST
Owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, at least 10%
or $5,000 of the outstanding stock of or at least 10% or $5,000 of
any business.
There are certain provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes which
should, while not set forth herein, be considered an integral part
of any code of ethics. Accordingly, the provisions of the following
sections of the Wisconsin Statutes, as from time to time amended,
are made part of this Code of Ethics and shall apply to public officials
and employees whenever applicable, to wit:
A. Sec. 946.10. Bribery of public officers and employees.
B. Sec. 946.11. Special privileges from public utilities.
C. Sec. 946.12. Misconduct in public office.
D. Sec. 946.13. Private interest in public contract prohibited.
Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose
and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this
state and carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state and
Town, to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality
and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless
of personal considerations, recognizing that the public interest must
be their prime concern.
Any questions as to the interpretation of any provisions of
this chapter shall be referred to the Town Attorney. Such requests
shall be as detailed as possible and shall be made in writing. Advisory
requests and opinions shall be kept confidential, except when disclosure
is authorized by the requestor, in which case the request and opinion
may be made public.
A determination that an official's or employee's actions constitute
improper conduct under the provisions of this chapter may, in the
case of an employee, constitute a cause of suspension, removal from
office or employment or other disciplinary action. Sanctions, including
any disciplinary action, that may affect employees covered under a
labor agreement will be consistent with the terms and conditions set
forth in the applicable labor agreement. In the case of an elected
or appointed Town official, the Town Board, upon a review of the facts
with the individual, may officially reprimand the official or remove
such official from certain committee assignments or responsibilities.
Violations of ethics ordinances, as set forth in this chapter,
are punishable in an amount determined by the Town Board with forfeitures
of not less than $100 or greater than $1,000.