The concept of ethics is a field based on the philosophy that
standards of conduct can be expressed in an objective manner consistent
with societal considerations and codified into established conventions,
thus generating accepted professional standards of conduct. In applying
this concept of ethics to municipal government, the professional standards
of conduct for officials and employees of the Town of Wallingford
are set forth in the Constitution of the United States, federal laws
and regulations, the Constitution and General Statutes of the State
of Connecticut, the Town Charter and ordinances and resolutions of
the Town of Wallingford (including this Code of Ethics) and generally
accepted societal norms and conventions for proper and ethical conduct.
The proper operation of Town government in Wallingford requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people whom they serve; that governmental decisions and policies be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that public office and employment not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government. The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to set forth standards of ethical conduct supplementing existing standards as referenced in §
20-1, to assist public officials and employees in establishing guidelines for their conduct and to develop and maintain a tradition of responsible and effective public service. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established for the Town of Wallingford the following Code of Ethics.
As used in this Code of Ethics, the following words or phrases,
unless a different meaning is required by the context or is specifically
prescribed, shall have the following meanings:
AGENCY
Includes the Town Council, all departments, the Board of
Education and appointed commissions and committees.
ENTITY CLOSELY ASSOCIATED
Any entity through which business for profit or not for profit
is conducted in which the public official or their relation is a director,
officer or holder of an ownership interest. An unpaid member (but
not a director or officer) of a non-profit entity is exempt from this
definition.
INTEREST
A.
Any interest, direct or indirect, which is of financial or personal
value to the Town official or employee which is not common to the
interest of other citizens of the Town. Interest shall include the
private interest arising from relations as defined herein or close
business association. Interest shall also include the interest of
any subcontractor in any prime contract with the Town and the interest
of any person or his/her immediate family in any corporation, firm
or partnership which has a direct or indirect interest in any transaction
with the Town; "transaction" shall include the offer, sale or furnishing
of any real or personal property, material, supplies or services by
any person, directly or indirectly, as vendor, prime contractor, subcontractor
or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the Town for a valuable consideration.
B.
A Town official or employee has an indirect interest if they
are likely to receive a benefit or loss (financial or otherwise) as
a consequence of a benefit or loss incurred by a relation or entity
closely associated to the person. An indirect interest also exists
if the official or employee has a conflict of duty as a result of
a benefit or loss incurred by a relation or closely associated entity.
OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWN
Members and employees of the Town Council, boards, commissions,
committees, departments or other agencies, whether the officials are
elected or appointed, and shall include all officers and employees
of the Board of Education, but shall not mean Justices of the Peace.
PERSONAL VALUE
A nonfinancial interest or special treatment/detriment that
is not common to other Town citizens.
PROBABLE CAUSE
Evidence that provides reasonable grounds to believe it likely
that a violation has occurred. Probable cause is more than a mere
suspicion but less than a preponderance of the evidence. To find probable
cause, there must be sufficient facts to justify a reasonable person
in the belief that there are reasonable grounds for prosecuting the
complaint.
RELATIONS
A.
Blood relations shall include grandparent, parent, brother/sister,
child, grandchild, aunt/uncle, nephew/niece and first cousin, whether
such relations occur through blood lineage or adoption.
B.
Relations by marriage shall include the current spouse and all
blood relations of said spouse as defined above.
C.
Immediate family shall include grandparent, parent, brother/sister,
child and grandchild, whether such relations occur through blood lineage
or adoption, as well as the current spouse and his/her immediate family
as defined above.
An official or employee of the Town of Wallingford may serve
as a commissioner, director or officer of another municipality or
quasi-government agency unless prohibited by law, and such service
shall not, in and of itself, be deemed to be a conflict of interest.
The official or employee shall not, however, render any services to
said entities incompatible with the proper discharge of their public
duties or which could impair their independence or impartiality of
judgment in the performance of their public duties.
No official or employee shall knowingly render or agree to render
for compensation or otherwise any service to any person or party other
than the Town of Wallingford in connection with any cause, proceeding,
application or other matter which is before any Town agency. This
does not prohibit any Town official or employee from appearing before
any board or commission on his/her own behalf.
Except as may be required by law, no Town official or employee,
without proper authorization, shall disclose confidential information
concerning the property or affairs of government of the Town, nor
shall be/she use such information or special knowledge to advance
the financial or other private interests of himself/herself or others.