As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
BUSINESS
Any entity through which business for profit or not for profit
is conducted, including a corporation, partnership, proprietorship,
firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization or self-employed
individual.
BUSINESS WITH WHICH HE OR SHE IS ASSOCIATED
A business of which a public official or public employee
or member of his or her immediate family is a director, officer, owner,
employee, compensated agent or holder of stock that constitutes 5%
or more of the total outstanding stock of any class.
CONFIDENTAL INFORMATION
Information, whether transmitted orally or in writing, which
is obtained by reason of the public position or office held and is
of such a nature that it is not at the time of transmission a matter
of public record or public knowledge.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
A public official or public employee has an interest which
is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his/her duties
or employment in the public interest if he/she has reason to believe
that he/she or a family member of his/hers will derive a direct monetary
gain or suffer direct monetary loss, as the case may be, by reason
of his/her official activity. A public official or public employee
does not have an interest which is in substantial conflict with the
proper discharge of duties in the public interest if any benefit or
detriment accrues to him/her as a member of a business, profession,
occupation or group to no greater extent than any other member of
such business, profession, occupation or group. Specifically, a conflict
of interest exists if a public official or public employee or family
member of such official or employee has a financial or personal interest
in the outcome of any matter under consideration before him/her in
his/her official capacity within or before his/her department or a
board or commission of which he/she is a member; a public official
or public employee accepts employment which will either impair his/her
independence or judgment with regard to his/her official duties or
require him/her to disclose confidential information acquired by him/her
in the course of his/her duties. All public officials, public employees
and/or appointed members of the Town government shall seek to avoid
even the appearance of impropriety as it relates to this section.
Any criminal misconduct will mean a violation of the law as defined
in Connecticut General Statutes Titles 53, 53a and other applicable
statutes, which include misdemeanors and felonies, as defined therein.
DISTRICT
A district established pursuant to the Connecticut General
Statutes § 7-324.
FINANCIAL INTEREST
Any interest with a monetary value of $100 or more which
generates a financial gain or loss of $100 or more in a calendar year.
GIFT
Anything of value, including entertainment, food, beverage,
travel, or lodging, given or paid to a public official or public employee,
to the extent that consideration of equal or greater value is not
received. A "gift" does not include:
A.
A political contribution otherwise reported as required by law or a donation or payment as described in Subdivision (9) or (11) of Subsection
(b) of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-601a, as amended.
B.
Services provided by persons volunteering their
time for a political campaign.
C.
A commercially reasonable loan made on terms
not more favorable than loans made in the ordinary course of business.
D.
A gift received from:
(1)
An individual's spouse, fiance or fiancee;
(2)
The parent, brother or sister of such spouse
or such individual; or
(3)
The child of such individual or the spouse of
such child.
E.
Goods or services that are provided to the Town
and which facilitate governmental action or functions.
F.
A certificate, plaque or other ceremonial award
costing less than $100.
G.
A rebate or discount on the price of anything
of value given in the ordinary course of business without regard to
the recipient's status.
H.
Printed or recorded informational material germane
to governmental actions or functions.
I.
Items of nominal value, not to exceed $10, containing
or displaying promotional material.
J.
An honorary degree bestowed upon a public official
or public employee by a public or private university or college.
K.
Food or beverage provided at an event, or the
registration or entrance fee to attend such event, in which the public
employee or public official participates in said person's official
capacity.
L.
Food or beverage provided in the home by an
individual who resides in the Town in which the employee or official
serves.
M.
Gifts of nominal value not exceeding $25 tendered
on gift-giving occasions generally recognized by the public, including
Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays, the birth or adoption of a child,
weddings, confirmations, bar or bat mitzvahs, provided the total dollar
value of such gifts from any individual in any calendar year does
not exceed $100.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
Any spouse, child, parent, fiancee, sibling or dependent
relative.
PAID CONSULTANT
A person, firm or corporation hired by the Town to provide
services to the Town for a fee.
PERSON
An individual, sole proprietorship, trust, corporation, union,
company, association, firm, partnership, committee, club or other
organization or group of persons.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
A person employed full or part time by the Town. "Public
employee" does not include a public official.
PUBLIC OFFICIAL
An elected or appointed official employed/appointed full-
or part-time by the Town, on either a paid or unpaid basis, including
a district officer elected pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes
§ 7-327.
The Board of Selectmen shall cause a copy of
this code of Ethics to be distributed to every public official and
public employee within 90 days after the enactment of this code of
Ethics. Each public official and public employee elected, appointed
or engaged thereafter shall be furnished a copy of this code by the
Town Clerk before entering upon the duties of the office or employment.
Any amendments to this code shall similarly be distributed by the
Board of Selectmen within 90 days thereof. At the discretion of the
Board of Selectmen and its designees, paid consultants shall be furnished
a copy of this code. A signed receipt of all copies shall be returned
to the Town Clerk and retained on file. Not receiving a copy of this
code or any amendments thereto or not signing a receipt therefor does
not exempt a public official or public employee from the provisions
of the Code of Ethics. This Code shall be made available to individual(s),
partnership(s), corporation(s) or other entities doing business with
the Town and posted on the Town's website.