All officials and employees of the Town shall carry out their duties with the highest ethical standards regardless of personal considerations. Their conduct shall at all times be for the public good and within the bounds of law, shall comply with this Charter and the Town Code of Ethics, shall be above reproach and shall avoid conflict between public and private interests and responsibilities. The Board of Ethics shall determine any ambiguities and otherwise interpret the provisions of this Article X of this Charter.
A.
There shall be a Board of Ethics to hear and investigate violations of the Code of Ethics and the Charter in accordance with the powers and duties conferred by the applicable State statutes and the Charter.
B.
Written Ethics complaints can be filed with the Board of Ethics or the Board of Ethics may consider violations on their own volition. The Board of Ethics shall, upon determining that an ethics violation has occurred, forward its findings and recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for action. The Board of Selectmen shall implement the recommendations of the Board of Ethics unless, by no less than a 2/3 vote by the entire Board of Selectmen taken within 30 days of receipt of the recommendations, the Board of Selectmen rejects the recommendations of the Board of Ethics.
C.
If the Board of Ethics determines there is no violation, it shall notify both the complainant and the respondent of their findings. These findings shall remain confidential unless the respondent chooses to make them public.
D.
If a complaint is filed concerning a member(s) of the Board of Ethics, the Board of Selectmen shall act as the temporary Board of Ethics, solely for review of such matters.
E.
The Board of Ethics may retain counsel in accordance with the Charter to provide advice during its deliberations and to pursue enforcement of its recommendations. In the event that the Town Attorney is not able to render these services to the Board of Ethics, the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance shall authorize such special counsel as requested by the Board of Ethics and place a reasonable limit on expenditures.
A.
Any elected or appointed Town officer, official or employee, any elected or appointed members of Town boards, commissions, committees and/or authorities who has a financial interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, any transaction or any decision of any agency, board or commission of the Town to which the Town is a party shall disclose that interest in writing to the Board of Selectmen, which shall record such disclosure upon the official record of its meeting and shall file a copy of such record in the office of the Town Clerk. Any such officer, official or employee shall be disqualified from acting on any such matter coming before such office, board or commission.
B.
Violation of the provisions of this section shall be grounds for the removal of any such officer, official or employee. Such violation with the knowledge, expressed or implied, of any person, firm or corporation participating in such contract, transaction or decision shall render the same voidable by the Board of Selectmen.