[Ord. No. 973 § 1]
a. 
It has been determined that it is a worthy and a desirable objective for the Township Council of the Township of Fairfield, State of New Jersey, to inspire and retain the respect and confidence of the people of the community. It is deemed essential that the Township's public officers and employees avoid any conduct which is in violation of their public trust. The protection of the public interest and the proper administration of the government of this Township require that all of its officers and employees be impartial, independent and free of any conflicting interests that might tend to influence their actions, decisions or judgments.
b. 
It is at the same time recognized that citizens who serve in government cannot and should not be expected to be without any personal interest in the decisions and policies of government and that such citizens who are officials or employees have a right to private interest of a personal, financial and economic nature. The standards of conduct herein established should separate those conflicts of interest which are unavoidable in our society from those conflicts of interest which are substantial and material, or which impair their impartial or independent judgment or which bring the government into disrepute. The purpose of this Code is to establish ethical standards of conduct for all such officials by setting forth those acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the Township and by direction disclosure by such officials of private, financial or other interests in relationships between themselves and those with whom they might have dealings in matters affecting the Township. The provisions and purpose of this Code and such rules and regulations that may be established are hereby declared to be in the best interest of the Township of Fairfield and the welfare of the citizens.
c. 
Public officials shall conduct their official duties with integrity, impartiality and in the public interest. They shall also conduct both their official and private affairs so as not to give a reasonable basis for the impression that any such official can be improperly influenced in the performance of his official duties. Such official shall so conduct himself as to maintain public confidence in the performance of his/her public trust and in any government and shall avoid even the appearance of conflict between his public duties and private interests.
[Ord. No. 973 § 2]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have meanings indicated:
OFFICIAL
Shall mean and include the following:
a. 
Mayor and Councilmembers.
b. 
Administrator, Township Attorney, Township Clerk and department and division heads.
c. 
Members of the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, and Library Board whether paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, whether created by the Governing Body or the Township of Fairfield or appointed by any of its officials or administrators, including the attorneys and secretaries appointed to those Boards.
d. 
Township Inspectors, including Construction Officials, Health Inspectors, Engineering Inspectors and Zoning Inspectors.
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
Shall mean in the case of a member of any board, commission, committee or agency, disclosure in the minutes of the board, commission, committee or agency of the nature and extent of private interest in any matter before such board, commission, committee or agency, and in the case of the Mayor and Councilmembers, disclosure in the minutes of the Township Council of the nature and extent of private interest in any matter before such Township Council.
[Ord. No. 973 § 3]
a. 
Officials shall accept the fundamental principal that they hold their respective positions for and on behalf of the public and attend to their duties as fiduciaries to the public at large.
b. 
Officials are agents of public purpose and shall hold office or employment for the benefit of the public and are bound to observe in their official acts the heights standards of conduct.
c. 
Officials, recognizing that the public interest is their primary concern, shall faithfully discharge their official duties regardless of personal consideration.
[Ord. No. 973 § 4]
a. 
Officials shall give fair and equal treatment to every citizen.
b. 
No individual who seeks appointment or promotion to any municipal office or position shall directly or indirectly give, render or pay any money, service or any other value or any other valuable thing to any person for or in connection with his test appointment, promotion or proposed promotion.
c. 
Officials shall not use municipally owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally, and then upon such terms as the municipal policy for the use of officials in the conduct of official business or as a condition of an employment contract.
d. 
No official shall grant or make available to any person any consideration, treatment, advantage or favor beyond that which it is the practice to grant or to make available to the public at large consistent with the tenets of this Code of Ethics.
[Ord. No. 973 § 5]
a. 
No official, whether paid or unpaid, shall knowingly engage in any business transaction or shall have a financial or any pecuniary interest and personal interest direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the discharge of his official duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties. "Personal interest" as used herein shall be one which directly or indirectly impairs the judgment of the official for his personal gain (inclusive of family, business or professional relationships).
b. 
No official shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties.
c. 
No official shall appear in behalf of private interests before any officer, department or agency of his respective municipal government, except that the Mayor and Councilmen may appear without compensation in behalf of their constituents or citizens of Fairfield or in the performance of public or civic obligations, provided such appearance is in the discharge of their official duties and responsibilities and associated with their office or position with the Township. This subsection shall not apply to officials who are appearing in their own behalf.
d. 
No official to whom this chapter is applicable shall accept, take or receive a gift or other thing of value in the course of his or her employment with the municipality or in connection with such employment but shall not apply to the acceptance or exchange of gifts between officers, officials or employees.
e. 
No official shall knowingly disclose confidential information, without proper authorization therefor, concerning the government, property or affairs of the Township, nor shall be use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself or others. "Confidential information" shall mean and include materials which have been designated as such by the presiding officer of the municipal agency formulating the material, report, study or other work product which would not be the subject matter of the Right to Know Law of the State of New Jersey.
f. 
No official shall invest or hold any investment directly or indirectly in any financial, business, commercial or any other private transaction which creates a conflict with his official duties.
g. 
No official shall solicit, negotiate or promise to accept employment with any person, firm or corporation with which he is engaged on behalf of the Township in the transaction business or which may be affected by his official action.
h. 
No person, firm or corporation shall attempt directly or indirectly to secure preferential treatment in dealings with the municipality by offering any valuable gift, whether in the form of a service, loan, thing, or promise or in any other form, to officials.
i. 
Any official of the Township of Fairfield who has a direct or indirect financial interest in any business entity, transaction or contract with the municipality or in the sale or real estate, materials, supplies or services to the municipality, the disposition of which may be influenced by his official position, shall refrain from voting or deliberating upon such proposed legislation or activity or otherwise participating in such transaction, and he shall disclose publicly the nature of his interest.
j. 
No person shall be appointed to or removed from or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to any appointed administrative office because of his religion, national origin, sex or political opinions or affiliations if otherwise qualified for the position or office.
k. 
Any official who has a direct or indirect financial or personal interest, as herein defined, which may influence the disposition of any transaction or which may be influenced by his official position or action shall disclose all sources of income and the nature and extent of any personal interest or financial interest in such transaction when such income or interest may represent a conflict of interest with his official duty or is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duty or is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his independence of judgment or action in the performance of his official duties. Such disclosure shall be made to the appointing authority.
[Ord. No. 973 § 6]
Violation of any provisions of this Code should raise conscientious questions for the official concerned as to whether voluntary resignation or other action is indicated to promote the best interests of the Township. Violation may constitute a cause for suspension or removal from office or employment or other disciplinary action as provided for by the State Statutes.