[2-6-2006]
All Board members and the Mayor, whether elected or appointed,
shall attest to the following Board Member Code of Conduct prior to
taking office.
[2-6-2006]
A.
The Village of Thornton Board recognizes the need for decision-making
and public responsiveness, which requires a commitment to ethical,
business-like and lawful conduct including proper use of authority
and appropriate decorum when acting as a Board member. Accordingly,
each Board member will:
1.
Represent all the people of the community while avoiding partisanship
based on special interests.
2.
Engage in no self-dealing or the conduct of any private business
of personal services between any Board member and the organization
except as procedurally controlled to assure openness, competitive
opportunity and abuse of "inside" information.
3.
Limit yourself in the participation of the discussions and recuse
in voting on those items that are an unavoidable conflict of interest.
4.
Not promise in advance of a meeting how he or she will vote
on any issue, should reserve judgment until all facts have been presented.
5.
Not use his or her position to obtain employment for him- or
herself, for immediate family members or close associates. (Should
a member desire employment, he or she must first resign.)
6.
Make decisions involving the welfare of the Village based on
study and evidence, recognizing that personal feelings, opinions and
other such factors are not conducive to sound decision-making; and
understand that respecting the opinions of fellow Board members is
vital.
7.
Accept the principle of Board unity by respecting majority decisions
of the Board.
8.
Respect the Board's commitment to work with the administrator
by:
a.
Request desired information about the Village's programs
directly from him or her;
b.
Utilize his or her suggestions for new policies;
c.
Seek his or her professional advice;
d.
Refrain from acting on any complaint until after the administrator
has had an opportunity to investigate fully and report to the Board;
and
e.
Respect Board-approved actions of the administrator and his
or her staff.
9.
Recognize that the individual Board member has no authority
over Village policies or operations and shall speak or act for the
Board only when specifically authorized to do so by action of the
Board.
10.
Understand and respect the separation of Board responsibilities
and functions from those of the Administrator and staff. The Board's
responsibility is to ensure that the agency is well managed —
not to manage the Village.
11.
Consider unethical and thus avoid "secret" sessions of the Board.
12.
Respect the confidentiality appropriate to issues of a sensitive
nature.
13.
Commit to prompt and regular attendance at Board meetings and
be properly prepared for Board deliberation.
14.
Understand and follow all provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings
Act, as well as any other applicable statues that govern the conduct
of elected officials.
15.
Participate in community activities.
16.
Participate in Board development opportunities.
17.
Develop productive relationships with other elected officials
at the state, local and national levels.
18.
Be available and responsive to residents by interpreting the
needs of citizens to the Village and by interpreting the actions of
the Village to citizens without favor of any particular geographic
area or interest group.
19.
Keep the best interests of the Village in mind by considering
him- or herself a "trustee" of the Village and doing his or her best
to ensure that it is well maintained, financially secure, growing
and always operating in the best interests of those the Village serves.
20.
Respect, listen and communicate with fellow Board members and
the administrator and his or her staff.
21.
Make a committed effort to continuing education and to be well
informed about issues and trends that could affect the Village.
