Authority for this ethics article derives from § 19.59(1m),
Wis. Stats.
The purpose of this article is to establish ethical standards
of conduct for all County officials and employees by identifying those
acts or actions that are not compatible with the best interests of
the County. Because representatives of the County are drawn from society,
they cannot and should not be without all personal and economic interest
in the decisions and policies of government. Citizens who are appointed
to serve as County officials and employees retain their rights as
citizens to personal and economic interests. Therefore, the standards
of ethical conduct for County officials and employees must distinguish
between minor and inconsequential conflicts which are unavoidable
and those conflicts which are substantial and material. The provisions
of this article, and such rules and regulations that may be established,
are to be interpreted in the context of the above principles and are
deemed to be in the best interest of the public.
This article applies to every County official and employee.
In this article, the following words, terms and phrases, when
used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning:
ADVISORY OPINION
An interpretation requested by an official or employee and
issued by the Ethics Board regarding the propriety of any matter to
which the official or employee is or may become a party.
ANYTHING OF VALUE
Any money or property, favor, gift, service, payment, advance,
forbearance, loan, or promise of future employment, including without
restriction by enumeration tickets, passes, lodging, travel, recreational
expense, and admission offered and provided by persons doing business,
or interested in doing business, with the County. Anything of value
does not include such things as compensation and expenses paid by
the state or County, political contributions that are reported under
Ch. 11, Wis. Stats., occasional meals and beverages, fees, honorariums
and expenses, unsolicited advertising or promotional material such
as pens, pencils, notepads, calendars, informational or educational
materials of unexceptional value, plaques, or other advertising giveaways,
hospitality of nominal value or extended for a purpose unrelated to
County business, business-related seminars, trade shows or other training-related
activities or any other thing which is not likely to influence the
judgment of individuals covered by this article.
CONTRACT
All agreements executed between the County or a subunit thereof
and another party or parties for the provision of goods, materials,
supplies, construction, or services in exchange for valuable and sufficient
consideration.
EMPLOYEE
All persons filling an allocated position of County employment
and all members of boards, committees, and commissions except members
of the County Ethics Board and those individuals included in the definition
of "official."
FAMILY
Any individual related to a public official as spouse, parent,
child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law
and step relations of the above, or a legal designee for tax purposes.
FINANCIAL INTEREST
Any interest that shall yield, directly or indirectly, a
monetary or other material benefit to the official or employee or
to any person employing or treating the services of the official or
employee.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
An official or employee's spouse or family member who contributes
more than half the support of the official or employee or receives
that level of support from the official or employee.
OFFICIAL
All County department heads or directors, County supervisors,
and all other County elected officers, except judges and district
attorneys.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship,
firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization, joint venture
trust, or other legal entity recognized as such by the laws of the
State of Wisconsin.
PERSONAL INTEREST
Any interest arising from blood or marriage relationships
or from close business or political associations, whether or not any
financial interest is involved.
PRIVILEGED INFORMATION
Any written or oral material related to County government
which has not become part of the body of public information and which
is designated by statute, court decision, lawful orders, ordinances,
resolution or custom as privileged.
This ethics article hereby creates an Ethics Board.
A. Membership. The Ethics Board shall consist of five members. Three
members shall be members of the legal or law enforcement community,
one citizen member who must be a County resident, and one member of
the clergy. In no instance may a former County employee be a member
of the Ethics Board. The County Administrator or County Clerk shall
provide necessary staff assistance to the Ethics Board.
B. Appointment and term. The County Board Chair shall appoint members
of the Ethics Board subject to the confirmation by the Board of Supervisors,
and terms of office shall be three-year staggered terms.
C. Powers and duties. The Ethics Board shall be responsible for investigating
complaints and conducting hearings under this article. The Ethics
Board will interpret the County Code of Ethics consistent with interpretations
handed down by the State of Wisconsin Ethics Commission or its successor
boards or commissions.
D. Assistance of counsel. The Corporation Counsel shall furnish the
Ethics Board whatever legal assistance is necessary to carry out its
functions. The Corporation Counsel may retain outside counsel to provide
this assistance as necessary. In all other sections of this article
where the term "corporation counsel" is used, it shall include any
counsel retained by the Corporation Counsel under this section.
E. Open meetings. The Ethics Board is subject to Ch.
19, Wis. Stats., and shall comply with all open meetings statutes.