The citizens of Raymore have a right to expect that every elected
official will conduct themselves in a manner that will tend to preserve
public confidence in and respect for the government they represent.
This chapter lists the types of conduct that elected officials shall
be prohibited from engaging in, and governs the procedure for the
investigation, judgment and discipline of any elected official who
is allegedly in violation.
Except where authorized by law or pursuant to an agreement between
the City and another entity of government, no elected official shall
hold any other compensated elected governmental office or any City
employment during the term for which they were elected to office.
No elected official shall be convicted of a felony during their
term of office.
No elected official shall fail to pay, by its original due date
without valid reason, any valid tax or assessment that is owed to
the City which is being disputed in good faith.
No elected official shall fail to attend three (3) consecutive
regular meetings of the Council or more than twenty-five percent (25%)
of the Council's regular meetings or work sessions during any twelve-month
period without being excused by the Council.
No elected official shall violate the conflicts of interest and disclosure provisions of Chapter
125 of the City Code.
No elected official shall accept any valuable gift, whether
in the form of service, loan, thing or promise, from any person which
to his knowledge is interested directly or indirectly in any manner
whatsoever in business dealings with the City; nor shall any such
elected official (1) accept any gift, favor or thing of value that
may tend to influence him in the discharge of his duties, or (2) grant
in the discharge of his duties any improper favor, service or thing
of value. The prohibition against gifts or favors shall not apply
to an occasional non pecuniary gift, insignificant in value, or an
award publicly presented in recognition of public service, or any
gift that would have been offered or given if he were not an elected
official. Purchase of a meal for an elected official shall not be
deemed a valuable gift, but shall be disclosed on the record unless
the meal would have been purchased if he were not an elected official.
Except as provided under Section
3.11 of the City Charter, the Council or its individual members shall not interfere with or provide direction to City Officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the City Manager except through the City Manager, and neither the Council nor its individual members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately. Neither the Council or any of its individual members shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of any City administrative officers or employees whom the City Manager or the City Manager's subordinates are empowered to appoint, but the Council as a group may express its views and fully and freely discuss with the City Manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of such officers and employees.
No elected official shall knowingly violate the State's open
meetings and records laws, namely Chapter 610 RSMo.
Violation of any provision contained in Sections
111.030 through
111.070 of this Chapter shall constitute a cause for forfeiture of office and declaring of a vacant seat by the Council pursuant to Section
3.8 of the Raymore Charter. Violation of any provision contained in Sections
111.080 through
111.130 of this Chapter may constitute a cause for censure, suspension, forfeiture of office including declaring of a vacant seat by the Council pursuant to Section
3.8 of the Raymore Charter, or other disciplinary action. However, the City Council shall not impose sanctions upon an elected official unless such sanctions receive an affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the members of the Council.
Decisions made by the City Council under this Chapter shall
be subject to review by the Courts as a contested case pursuant to
Sections 536.100 through 536.140 RSMo.
The City Clerk shall distribute a copy of this Chapter to every
elected or appointed official before beginning the duties of office
or immediately after any amendments are approved.
If any provision of this Chapter is found by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, or if the application
of this Chapter to any person or circumstances is found to be invalid
or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall
not affect the other provisions or applications of this Chapter which
can be given effect without the invalid or unconstitutional provision
or application.