Conflicts of Interest. The use of public office for private gain is prohibited. The city council shall implement this prohibition by ordinance. Regulations to this end shall include but are not limited to: acting in an official capacity on matters in which the official has a private financial interest clearly separate from that of the general public; the acceptance of gifts and other things of value; acting in a private capacity on matters dealt with as a public official; the use of confidential information; and appearances by city officials before other city agencies on behalf of private interests. This ordinance shall provide for reasonable public disclosure of finances by officials with major decision making authority over monetary expenditures and contractual matters and, insofar as permissible under state law, shall provide for penalties.
(a)
Activities Prohibited.
(1)
No person shall be appointed to or removed from, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to any city position or appointive city administrative office because of race, gender, age, disability, religion, country of origin or political affiliation.
(2)
No person shall willfully make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating or report in regard to any test, certification or appointment under the provisions of this charter or the rules and regulations made thereunder, or in any manner commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of such provisions, rules and regulations.
(3)
No person who seeks appointment or promotion with respect to any city position or appointive city administrative office shall directly or indirectly give, render or pay any money, service or other valuable thing to any person for or in connection with her or his test, appointment, proposed appointment, promotion or proposed promotion.
(4)
No city employee shall knowingly or willfully make, solicit or receive any contribution to the campaign funds of any political party or committee to be used in a city election or to campaign funds to be used in support of or opposition to any candidate for election to city office or city ballot issue. Further, no city employee shall knowingly or willfully participate in any aspect of any political campaign on behalf of or opposition to any candidate for city office. This section shall not be construed to limit any person’s right to exercise rights as a citizen to express opinions or to cast a vote nor shall it be construed to prohibit any person from active participation in political campaigns at other level of government.
(b)
Penalties. Any person found guilty of a violation of this section shall be ineligible for a period of five (5) years following such finding to hold any city office or position and, if an officer or employee of the city, shall immediately forfeit her or his office or position. The city council shall establish by ordinance such further penalties as it may deem appropriate.
The boundaries and limits of the City of Plainview may be hereafter changed by annexation or disannexation in the manner provided in Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code.