[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Farmington 6-24-1980
by Ord. No. 79. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The purpose of these standards is to guide Town officials,
elected and appointed, Town employees and citizens by establishing standards
of conduct for persons in the decision-making process. It is intended to strengthen
the tradition of good government in Farmington.
B.
Good government depends upon decisions which are based
upon the merits of the issue and are in the best interest of the Town as a
whole, without regard to personal gain.
The following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:
- CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
- Any information concerning the property, business or affairs of the Town not generally available to the public.
- EMPLOYEE
- Any person receiving a salary, wages or compensation from the Town for services rendered.
- OFFICIAL
- Any person holding elective or appointive office in the government
of the Town, including the Town Treasurer, Corporation Counsel, Town Clerk,
Town Auditors and members and alternate members, if any, of the Town Council,
Board of Education, Town Plan and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals,
Water Pollution Control Authority, Conservation Commission and committees
appointed to oversee the construction or improvement of Town facilities or
any other board, commission or agency which exercises legislative or judicial
functions or financial authority. Justices of the Peace are excepted.[Amended 7-28-1992]
No official or employee shall use or permit the use of Town funds, services,
property, equipment, owned or leased vehicles or materials for personal convenience
or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally
or are provided in conformance with established Town policies for the use
of such officials or employees.
No official or employee shall grant or accept any special consideration,
treatment or advantage to or from any person beyond that which is available
to every other person.
A.
Financial interest prohibited. No member of the Town
Council nor any person holding any other elective or appointed Town office
nor any employee of the Town shall be financially interested, directly or
indirectly, as a principal, surety, officer or otherwise, except as a minority
stockholder of a publicly held corporation, in any contract with, sales to
or purchases from the Town or comparable services rendered to the Town; provided,
however, that any elected or appointed officer or employee of the Town whose
office or position is not directly connected with the department, commission,
board or agency of the Town purchasing or selling said material or service
shall not be barred from contracting with the Town on such sales or purchases
or services.
B.
Disclosure of confidential information. No official or
employee shall disclose or use any confidential information obtained in an
official capacity for the purpose of advancing the financial or personal interest
of himself or others.
C.
Gifts and favors. No official or employee or member of
his/her immediate family shall solicit or accept any gift having a substantial
value, whether in the form of service, loan, thing, promise or any other form,
from any person or persons who to his/her knowledge is interested, directly
or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the Town.
D.
Use of influence. No official or employee shall solicit
any business, directly or indirectly, from another official or employee over
whom he has any direct or indirect control or influence with respect to tenure,
compensation or duties.
E.
Representation of private interests. No official or employee shall appear on behalf of private interests before any board, commission or agency of the Town, as defined in § 24-2 above, nor shall he represent private interests in any action or proceeding against the Town in any litigation when said appearance or representation would be in conflict with or would impair his independence of judgment and action in the performance of his official duties as such officer or employee.
F.
Disclosure of interest.
(1)
Any official or employee who has a personal beneficial interest in any matter coming before the Town Council or any board, commission or agency of the Town, as defined in § 24-2 above, shall make the same known to such body, and such interest shall be disclosed on the records of such body. If such official or employee is a member of such body, he shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in the consideration of such matter or any determination in connection therewith by such body.
(2)
Any official or employee who believes he or she may have a personal beneficial interest in any matter coming before the Town Council or any board, commission or agency of the Town, as defined in § 24-2 above, shall make the same known to such body, and such interest shall be disclosed on the records of such body. If such official or employee is a member of such body, he or she shall disclose fully to other members of the board, commission or agency the facts relating to his or her personal or financial interest. The remaining members, by secret ballot in his or her absence, shall determine whether or not he or she should participate in the matter.
Any person having reasonable cause to believe that an official or employee
has a personal interest in any matter coming before him in his capacity as
such official or employee which might affect his ability to make an objective
determination with respect to such matter or that an official or employee
has violated any provision of this chapter may make such factual information
known, in writing, to the Town Council. The Town Council, upon receipt of
such information, shall take such action thereon as it may deem proper.
