[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
It is declared that high ethical standards among Town officers
and employees are essential to the conduct of good representative
government and that a code of ethics for the guidance of public officers
and employees will help them avoid conflicts between their personal
interests and public responsibilities, will improve standards of public
service and will promote and strengthen the confidence of the residents
of the Town in their public officers and employees. The purpose of
this chapter is to establish guidelines for ethical standards of conduct
for all such Town officers and employees by setting forth those acts
or actions that are incompatible with the public interest and which
compromise, or appear to compromise, public trust in the fairness,
independence and integrity of Town officers and employees and their
official actions.
The provisions of the following sections of the Wisconsin Statutes,
as from time to time amended, are made a part of this section and
shall apply to all public officers and public employees whenever applicable,
to wit:
A. Section 946.10, Bribery of Public Officers and Employees.
B. Section 946.11, Special Privileges from Public Utilities.
C. Section 946.12, Misconduct in Public Office.
D. Section 946.13, Private Interest in Public Contract Prohibited.
E. Section 946.14, Purchasing Claims at Less Than Full Value.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein.
If not defined herein, the word, term or phrase shall have the definition
commonly accepted including a relevant definition contained in the
Wisconsin Statutes. When not inconsistent with the context, the words
used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural
number include the singular number and words in the singular number
include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and
not merely directory:
PERSON
Includes a corporation, firm partnership, association, organization
and any other group acting as a unit as well as individuals, including
a personal representative, receiver or other representative appointed
according to law. Whenever the term "person" is used in any section
of this chapter prescribing a penalty or fine, as to partnerships
or associations, the work shall include the partners or members thereof,
and as to corporations, shall include the officers, agents or members
thereof who are responsible for any violation of such section.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
Any person excluded from the definition of a public officer
who is employed by the Town.
PUBLIC OFFICER
Persons serving in statutory elected or appointed offices
provided for in Chapter 60 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and all members
appointed to boards, committees and commissions established or appointed
by the Town Chairperson and/or Town Board, whether paid or unpaid.
TOWN
The Town of Rome, Adams County, Wisconsin, or any duly appointed
designate thereof, including, but not limited to, the Town Board and
Town committees.
TOWN BOARD or BOARD
The present governing body of the Town or any successors
to the legislative power of said body, or any duly appointed designate
thereof.
UTILITIES
Public and private facilities, such as water wells, water
and sewage pumping stations, water storage tanks, electrical power
substations, static transformer stations, telephone and telegraph
exchanges, microwave radio relays and gas regulation stations, inclusive
of associated transmission facilities but not including sewage disposal
plants, municipal incinerators, warehouses, shops, storage yards and
power plants.