The following definitions shall be applicable in this chapter:
ANYTHING OF VALUE
Any money or property, favor, service, payment, advance, forbearance,
loan, or promise of future employment, but does not include compensation or
expense reimbursement paid by the Village, honorariums, fees and expenses
under the standards and reporting requirements set forth in § 19.56,
Wis. Stats., political contributions which are reported under Ch. 11, Wis.
Stats., or hospitality extended for a purpose unrelated to Village business
by a person other than a firm, corporation, partnership, or joint venture.
BUSINESS
Any corporation, partnership, proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise,
association, organization, self-employed individual or any other legal entity
which engages in profit-making activities.
FINANCIAL INTEREST
Any interest which shall yield, directly or indirectly, a monetary
or other material benefit to the officer or employee or to any person employing
or retaining the services of the officer or employee.
PERSONAL INTEREST
Any interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or from
close business or political associations, whether or not any financial interest
is involved.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
Any person excluded from the definition of a public official who
is employed by the Village.
PUBLIC OFFICIAL
Those persons serving in statutory elected or appointed offices provided
for in Ch. 61, Wis. Stats., and all members appointed to boards, committees
and commissions established or appointed by the Village President and/or Village
Board pursuant to this Code, whether paid or unpaid.
SIGNIFICANT INTEREST
Owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, at least 10% or $5,000
of the outstanding stock of any business.
There are certain provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes which should,
while not set forth herein, be considered an integral part of any Code of
Ethics. Accordingly, the provisions of the following sections of the Wisconsin
Statutes, as from time to time amended, are made a part of this Code of Ethics
and shall apply to public officials and employees whenever applicable:
A. Section 946.10, Bribery of public officers and employees.
B. Section 946.11, Special privileges from public utilities.
C. Section 946.12, Misconduct in public office.
D. Section 946.13. Private interest in public contract prohibited.
Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold
office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution
of the United States and the Constitution of this state and carry out impartially
the laws of the nation, state and municipality, to observe in their official
acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties
of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the
public interest must be their prime concern.
When an official or employee has doubt as to the applicability of a
provision of this section, such official or employee may apply to the Village
Attorney for an advisory opinion. The official or employee shall have the
opportunity to present his or her interpretation of the facts at issue and
of the applicability of provisions of this section before such advisory decision
is made. This section shall be operative in all instances covered by its provisions,
except when superseded by an applicable statutory provision and statutory
action is mandatory, or when the application of a statutory provision is discretionary
but determined to be more appropriate or desirable.
A determination that an employee's actions constitute improper conduct
under the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a cause of suspension,
removal from office or employment or other disciplinary action. Sanctions,
including any disciplinary action, that may affect employees covered under
a labor agreement will be consistent with the terms and conditions set forth
in the applicable labor agreement. Elected Village officials, following a
hearing before the Village Board, may be reprimanded and/or removed from committee
assignments.
No full-time officer or employee of the Village shall engage in other
ongoing, significant remunerative employment within or without the Village,
provided that the Village Board may approve such outside employment or activity
if it finds that it does not morally conflict with such officer's or employee's
ability to perform his duties in an efficient and unbiased manner. Violation
of this provision shall be grounds for removal from office of any such officer
or employee.