The purpose of this Code is to establish ethical standards of conduct
for all City of Lodi officials and employees by identifying those acts or
actions that are not compatible with the best interest of the City. Because
representatives of the City are drawn from society, they cannot and should
not be without all personal and economic interest in the decisions and policies
of government. Citizens who serve as City officials and employees retain their
rights as citizens to personal and economic interests. Therefore, the standards
of ethical conduct for City officials and employees must distinguish between
minor and inconsequential conflicts which are unavoidable and those conflicts
which are substantial and material. The provisions of this code, and such
rules and regulations which may be established, are to be interpreted in the
context of the above principles and are deemed to be in the best interest
of the public.
City officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office
to serve the public interest. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of
the United States, the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin and to carry
out efficiently and impartially all laws of the United States, the State of
Wisconsin, and the ordinances of the City of Lodi. Further, they are bound
to observe, in their official acts, the standards of ethics set forth in this
code and to faithfully discharge the duties of their office. The public interest
must be their primary concern.
This code governs all City of Lodi officials, whether elected or appointed,
paid or unpaid, including members of boards, committees and commissions, department
heads, and other City employees. All Lodi officials and employees shall be
provided a written copy of this code, and each shall sign an acknowledgement
indicating that he/she has been provided a copy of the code and read it. The
acknowledgement should be signed by each official or employee, with his/her
signature witnessed and dated.
Political contributions which are reported under Chapter 11, Wis. Stats.,
are exempt from the provisions of this code.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ANYTHING OF VALUEAny money or property, favor, service, payment, advance forbearance,
loan or promise of future employment, but does not include such things as
compensation and expenses paid by the state or City, fees, honorariums and
expenses, unsolicited advertising or promotional material such as pens, pencils,
notepads, calendars, information or educational materials of unexceptional
value, plaques, other advertising giveaways or any other thing which is not
likely to influence the judgment of individuals covered by this code.
EMPLOYEEAll persons filling an allocated position of City employment and
all members of boards, committees, and commissions.
FINANCIAL INTERESTAny interest which yields, directly or indirectly, a monetary or
other material benefit to the City officer or employee or to any person employing
or retaining services of the City officer or employee.
IMMEDIATE FAMILYAn official's or employee's spouse, children, stepchildren,
parents, stepparents, or other legal relation who contributes more than one-half
of the support of the official or receives that level of support from the
official or employee.
OFFICIALAll City department heads or directors, a member of the Common Council,
and all other City elected and appointed officers.
PERSONAny individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association
or organization.
PRIVILEGED INFORMATIONAny written or oral material related to City government which has
not become part of the body of public information and which is designated
by statute, court decision, lawful orders, ordinances, resolution or custom
as privileged.
RELATED PERSONSpouse, parents, children, siblings, and any person sharing the employee's
residence.
A member of the Common Council who has a financial interest in any proposed
action before the Common Council shall disclose the nature and extent of such
interest to the City Clerk and the Common Council prior to or during the initial
discussion of such action and shall refrain from participating in the discussion
of and/or voting on such action. A member of the Common Council shall request
to be excused by the Council or Committee Chair for the duration of any deliberations
concerning such action in which the member has a financial interest. Any other
official or employee who has a financial interest in any proposed action before
the Common Council, and who participates in discussion with or gives an official
opinion or recommendation to the Common Council, shall first disclose the
nature and extent of such interest to the Common Council.
An official or employee shall not knowingly disclose or permit the disclosure
of privileged information to any person not lawfully authorized to receive
such privileged information. An official or employee shall not use privileged
information to advance his or her personal financial interest or that of his
or her immediate family.
An official or employee shall not accept, from any person or organization
directly or indirectly, anything of value without full payment, if it could
reasonably be expected to influence his or her vote, governmental actions
or judgments or is provided to such official or employee because of his or
her position or office and could reasonably be considered as a reward for
any governmental action or inaction.