[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Haverford 11-9-2020 by Res. No. 2195. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
A Code of Ethics is hereby established for all officials and employees
of Haverford Township, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid,
including all members of advisory and administrative boards.
B.
The purpose of this code is to establish certain ethical standards
of conduct for all such officials and employees by setting forth those
acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the
Township, by directing disclosure by such officials and employees
of financial or other interests in matters affecting the Township
and by establishing certain responsibilities.
C.
Nothing in this code shall be deemed to amend, modify, alter, or
supersede any statutory enactment regarding the privileges, duties
or obligations of Township Commissioners or other officials or employees.
Public officials and employees hold office or are employed by
the Township for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Pennsylvania,
and to carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state, and Township.
Officials and employees shall act within the scope of their
authority and within the law, and shall work in full cooperation with
other public officials and employees unless prohibited from so doing
by law.
A.
No official or employee shall request or permit the use of Township-owned
vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience
or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally
or, by municipal policy, are provided for the use of such official
or employee in the conduct of official business.
B.
No official or employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment
or advantage to any person beyond that which is available to every
other person. No official or employee shall grant any special consideration,
treatment or advantage for his/her personal benefit.
A.
No Commissioner or other official or employee shall engage in any
business or transaction or shall have any interest which would impair
his/her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his
official duties.
B.
Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance
of officials and employees.
(1)
Disclosure of confidential information. No Commissioner or other
official or employee shall, without proper authorization, disclose
confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs
of the Township which shall advance the financial or other interest
of himself/herself or others.
(2)
Gifts and favors. No Commissioner or other official or employee shall
accept any valuable gift, whether in the form of service, loan, thing
or promise, from any person which to his/her knowledge is interested
directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in business dealings
with the Township; nor shall any such official or employee accept
any gift, favor or thing of value that may tend to influence him in
the discharge of his/her duties or grant in the discharge of his/her
duties any improper favor, service or thing of value. The receipt
of casual business meals or refreshments shall not be held to be within
the meaning of this provision.
(3)
Representing private interests before Township agencies or courts.
No Commissioner or other official or employee shall represent private
interests in any action or proceeding against the interests of the
Township or in any court litigation to which the Township is a party.
A Commissioner may appear before the Township agencies on behalf of
constituents in the course of his/her duties as a representative of
the electorate or in the performance of public or civic obligations,
provided that a Commissioner may not appear before the Zoning Hearing
Board or the Planning Commission until he/she has made a good faith
effort to consult with the Township Solicitor. However, no Commissioner
or other official or employee shall accept a retainer or compensation
in respect to any matter pending before a Township agency.
(4)
Contracts with the Township. Any Commissioner or other official or
employee who has a financial interest in any business entity, transaction
or contract with the Township or in the sale of real estate, materials,
supplies or services to the Township shall make known to the Township
Secretary such interest in any matter. This provision shall not be
applicable to stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other holdings wherein
the investment in relation to the entire entity is insignificant.
He/she shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in
the transaction or the making of such contract or sale.
(5)
Disclosure of interest in pending matters.
(a)
A Commissioner who has any interest in any pending Township
motion, resolution or ordinance which would impair his/her independence
of judgment or action in the performance of his/her official duties
shall disclose such interest to the Township Secretary and shall abstain
from the consideration of or voting upon such matter.
(b)
Any employee who has a financial interest and who participates
in discussion with or gives an official opinion to the Board of Commissioners
shall disclose same.
(c)
Any other official who has any interest in any pending matter
before the board or commission served by such person which would impair
his/her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his/her
official duties shall disclose such interest and shall abstain from
the consideration of or voting upon such matter.
