This code shall apply to all Town officials, officers and employees,
whether elected and/or appointed, including members of boards, commissions,
and committees, full time or part time, paid or unpaid and shall hereinafter
be referred to collectively as "persons governed by this code."
Public office is a public trust. The trust of the public is
essential for government to function effectively. Policy developed
by government officials and employees affects every citizen of the
town, and it must be based upon honest and fair deliberations and
decisions. This process must be free from threats, favoritism, undue
influence and all forms of impropriety so that the confidence of the
public is not eroded. By enacting this code, the Town seeks to avoid
any loss of trust and to maintain and increase the confidence of our
citizens in the integrity, fairness and transparency of their government.
Persons governed by this code shall strive to conduct themselves
in a professional, courteous, honest manner and otherwise according
to the highest moral and personal standards of integrity, such that
their behavior reflects favorably upon themselves and the Town of
Hebron, including but not limited to conduct or communication in any
public forum or media.
As used in this chapter, the following listed words and phrases
shall have these specific meanings:
A.
Conflict of Interest: A conflict between
one's obligation to the public good and one's self-interest.
B.
Financial Interest: Any monetary benefit
accruing to persons governed by this code that is not equally available
to the general public.
C.
Gift: Anything having value whether
in the form of service, loan, tangible property, promise or any other
form. However a gift shall not include political contributions made
in accordance with campaign financing regulations; nor tokens of appreciation,
recognition or other incidental gratuities not exceeding $100 per
year.
D.
Immediate Family: Includes spouse/domestic
partner, siblings, child(ren), parents, of persons governed by this
code or the spouse/domestic partner and any individual residing in
the same household.
E.
Independent Contractor: Any general
contractor, subcontractor, consultant, person, firm, corporation,
vendor or organization currently providing or formerly providing,
goods or services to the Town of Hebron in exchange for compensation.
F.
Personal Interest: Any non-monetary
benefit, special consideration, treatment or advantage accruing to
persons governed by this code which is not equally available to the
general public.
No person governed by this code shall use his position or office
for the financial or personal interest of himself, a business with
which he is associated, an individual with which he is associated
or a member of his immediate family.
No person governed by this code shall engage in or participate
in any business or transaction, including outside employment with
a private business, or have an interest, direct or indirect, that
is incompatible with the proper discharge of his official responsibilities
in the public interest or that would tend to impair his independent
judgment or action in the performance of his official responsibilities.
No person governed by this code or a business with which he
is associated or member of his immediate family shall enter into a
contract with the Town unless it is awarded through a process of public
notice and/or competitive bidding.
No person governed by this code or independent contractor shall
knowingly counsel, authorize or otherwise sanction action that violates
any provision of this code.
A person governed by this code shall refrain from participating
on behalf of the Town of Hebron in any matter pending before any agency
of the Town if he, a business with which he is associated, an individual
with whom he is associated or a member of his immediate family has
a financial or personal interest in that matter and such interest
is not shared by a substantial segment of the town's population.
If such participation is within the scope of said person's
official responsibility, he shall be required to provide written disclosure,
that sets forth the nature and extent of such interest to the Town
Clerk, and this disclosure shall be included in the official record
of all proceedings on this matter.
Notwithstanding the prohibition outlined above, a person governed
by this code may vote or otherwise participate in a matter that involves
a determination of general policy if said person's interest in
the matter is shared with a substantial segment of the population
of the Town.
No person governed by this code shall appear on behalf of private
interests before any agency of the Town, nor shall be represent private
interests in any action, proceeding or litigation against the Town.
Nothing contained in this code shall prohibit or restrict a
person governed by this code from appearing before any agency of the
Town on his own behalf, or from being a party in any action, proceeding
or litigation brought by or against such person to which the Town
is also a party.
For a period of one year after termination of service to the
Town, no former employee or Town official who participated in the
negotiation or award of a Town contract valued in excess of $25,000
shall accept employment with, appear on behalf of, or represent any
private interest concerning matters related to this same contract.
No person governed by this code or member of such individual's
immediate family or business with which he is associated shall solicit
or accept any gift that could reasonably be expected to influence
or create an appearance of influencing the actions or judgment of
such person.
If a prohibited gift is offered to a person governed by this
code, he shall refuse it, return it, pay the donor the market value
of the gift or donate it to a nonprofit organization provided he does
not take the corresponding tax write-off. Alternatively, such prohibited
gift may be considered a gift to the Town provided it remains in the
Town's possession.
No person governed by this code or independent contractor shall
request or permit the use of Town funds or services, Town-owned or
-leased vehicles, equipment, facilities, materials or property for
personal convenience or profit, except when such assets and services
are available to the public generally or are provided as Town policy
for the use of persons governed by this code in the conduct of official
business.
No person governed by this code, former employee or independent
contractor shall disclose confidential information concerning Town
affairs, nor shall such persons governed by this code use this information
for the personal or financial interests of themselves or others.
