[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Barneveld as § 1.07 of the 1993 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No Village employee or official shall receive or offer to receive, either directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity or other thing of value which he is not authorized to receive from any person who:
A. 
Has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with the Village or Village Board;
B. 
Conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the Village or Village Board; or
C. 
Has interest which may be substantially affected by the Village or Village Board.
A. 
No public official or employee may use his or her public office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of himself or herself, for his or her immediate family, or for an organization with which he or she is associated.
B. 
No person may directly or indirectly offer or give anything of value to a local public official or employee if it could reasonably be expected to affect that official's vote, official action or judgment or if it could be construed as a reward for any official or employee. No local public official or employee may accept anything of value tendered as money or property, favor, service, payment, advance, forbearance, loan or promise of future employment. Legal campaign contributions are exempt from the definition. "Anything of value" shall be as defined in § 19.42, Wis. Stats.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
C. 
An official or employee is not to accept hospitality if, after consideration of the surrounding circumstances, it could reasonably be concluded that such hospitality would not be extended were it not for the fact that the guest, or a member of the guest's immediate family, was a Village official or employee. Participation in celebrations, grand openings, open houses, informational meetings and similar events are excluded from this prohibition. This subsection further shall not be construed to prevent candidates for elective office from accepting hospitality from citizens for the purpose of supporting the candidate's campaign.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
D. 
No local official or employee may take any official action that affects a matter in which the public official or employee, a member of his or her immediate family, or an organization with which the official or employee is associated has a substantial financial interest.
E. 
No local public official or employee may use his or her office or position in any way that produces or assists in producing a substantial benefit, either directly or indirectly, for the official or employee, any members of his or her family, or an organization with which the official or employee is associated.
A. 
The Finance Committee shall have the administrative jurisdiction over this code of ethics chapter and shall be deemed the Ethics Committee for that purpose. An individual may request an advisory opinion on the propriety of any matter to which he or she is or may become a party. However, the Finance Committee has complete discretion as to whether to issue such and opinion. All requests and advisory opinions must be in writing. The fact that a person seeks an advisory opinion and abides by the material facts as stated is evidence of intent to comply with the ethics code or any local ordinance. Only the person requesting an advisory opinion may make the request, or resulting opinion, public. If that person releases any portion of the opinion, he or she waives confidentiality and all documents related to the matter may be disclosed.
B. 
The Finance Committee may make recommendations with respect to amendments to this Code of Ethics Chapter.
C. 
Upon the sworn complaint of any person alleging facts, which, if true, would constitute improper conduct under the provisions of this chapter, the Finance Committee shall conduct an investigation of the facts of the complaint if the investigation indicates there may be a reasonable basis for the complaint justifying further investigation, the Committee shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with the common law requirements of due process, including notice, an opportunity to be heard, an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and to present testimony and other evidence in support of the accused's position and an opportunity to be represented by counsel or other representatives at the expense of the accused. The Committee shall make written findings of fact and issue a written decision concerning the propriety of the conduct of the subject official or employee and shall refer the matter to the Village Board for final disposition. The Wisconsin Ethics Board may (but is not required to) issue opinions concerning the interpretations of the statutory Ethics Code but only at the request of county corporation counsels, local government attorneys and statewide associations of local governmental units.
D. 
In the event a member of the Finance Committee is allegedly involved in an ethics code violation, the Village President, subject to the confirmation of the Village Board, shall appoint another Trustee to temporarily replace the member of the Committee who is under investigation.
E. 
A determination that an official's or employee's actions constitute improper conduct under the provisions of this chapter may constitute a cause of suspension, removal from office or employment or other disciplinary action. The ethics code creates a maximum civil forfeiture of $1,000 for each violation by a local public official or be a person who attempts illegally to influence a public official.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Violation of this chapter shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.