A.
No municipal officer or employee may directly or indirectly solicit
any gift.
B.
No municipal officer or employee may accept or receive any gift having
a value of $35 or more, when:
(1)
The gift reasonably appears to be intended to influence the officer
or employee in the exercise or performance of his or her official
powers or duties;
(2)
The gift could reasonably be expected to influence the officer or
employee in the exercise or performance of his or her official powers
or duties; or
(3)
The gift is intended as a reward for any past, present, or future
official action on the part of the officer or employee.
C.
For purposes of this section, a "gift" includes anything of value,
whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment,
hospitality, thing, or promise, or in any other form. The value of
a gift is the gift's fair market value, determined by the retail
cost of the item or a comparable item. The fair market value of a
ticket entitling the holder to food, refreshments, entertainment,
or any other benefit is the face value of the ticket, or the actual
cost to the donor, whichever is greater.
D.
Gifts to influence and reward.
(1)
A gift to a municipal officer or employee is presumed to be intended
to influence the exercise or performance of his or her official powers
or duties when the gift is from a private person or organization that
seeks municipal action involving the exercise of discretion by or
with the participation of the officer or employee.
(2)
A gift to a municipal officer or employee is presumed to be intended
as a reward for official action when the gift is from a private person
or organization that has obtained municipal action involving the exercise
of discretion by or with the participation of the officer or employee
during the preceding twelve months.
E.
This section does not prohibit any other gift, including:
(1)
Gifts made to the municipality;
(2)
Gifts from a person with a family or personal relationship with the
officer or employee when the circumstances make it clear that the
personal relationship, rather than the recipient's status as
a municipal officer or employee, is the primary motivating factor
for the gift;
(3)
Gifts given on special occasions, such as marriage, illness, or retirement,
which are modest, reasonable and customary;
(4)
Unsolicited advertising or promotional material of little intrinsic
value, such as pens, pencils, note pads, and calendars;
(5)
Awards and plaques having a value of $75 or less which are publicly
presented in recognition of service as a municipal officer or employee,
or other service to the community; or
(6)
Meals and refreshments provided when a municipal officer or employee
is a speaker or participant at a job-related professional or educational
conference or program and the meals and refreshments are made available
to all participants.
