It is the purpose of this article to provide for clear, consistent, and uniform standards of ethical conduct and financial disclosure requirements for officers and employees of the Township, so as to retain the respect and confidence of its citizens in the conduct of municipal business and to implement the provisions of the Local Government Ethics Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1 et seq.
[Adopted 11-8-1978 as Sec. 2-4.13 of the Revised General Ordinances]
As used in this article, all terms and phrases shall have the same meaning as defined by N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.3.
All officers and employees of the Township shall comply with the following provisions:
A.
No officer or employee of the Township or member of his immediate family shall have an interest in a business organization or engage in any business, transaction, or professional activity, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest.
B.
No officer or employee of the Township shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or advantages for himself or others.
C.
No officer or employee of the Township shall act in his official capacity in any matter where he, a member of his immediate family, or a business organization in which he has an interest, has a direct or indirect financial or personal involvement that might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity or independence or judgment.
D.
No officer or employee of the Township shall undertake any employment or service, whether compensated or not, which might reasonably be expected to prejudice his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
E.
No officer or employee of the Township, a member of his immediate family, or business organization in which he has an interest shall solicit or accept any gift, favor, loan, political contribution, service, promise of future employment, or other thing of value based upon an understanding that the gift, favor, loan, contribution, service, promise, or other thing of value was given or offered for the purpose of influencing him, directly or indirectly, in the discharge of his official duties. This provision shall not apply to the solicitation or acceptance of contributions to the campaign of an announced candidate for elective public office, if the officer has no knowledge or reason to believe that the campaign contribution, if accepted, was given with the intent to influence the officer in the discharge of his official duties.
F.
No officer or employee of the Township shall use, or allow to be used, his public office or employment or any information, not generally available to the members of the public, which he receives or acquires in the course of and by reason of his office or employment, for the purpose of securing financial gain for himself, any member of his immediate family, or any business organization with which he is associated.
G.
No officer of employee of the Township or business organization in which he has an interest shall represent any person or party other than the Township in connection with any cause, proceeding, application or other matter pending before any agency in the Township. This provision shall not be deemed to prohibit one Township employee from representing another employee where the Township is the employer and the representation is within the context of official labor union or similar representational responsibilities.
H.
No officer of the Township shall be deemed in conflict with these provisions if, by reason of his participation in the enactment of any ordinance, resolution or other matter required to be voted upon or which is subject to executive approval or veto, no material or monetary gain accrues to him as a member of any business, profession, occupation or group, to any greater extent than any gain could reasonably be expected to accrue to any other member of such business, profession, occupation or group.
I.
No elected Township official shall be prohibited from making an inquiry for information on behalf of a constituent, if no fee, reward or other thing of value is promised to, given to or accepted by the official or a member of his immediate family, whether directly or indirectly, in return therefor.
J.
Nothing shall prohibit any Township officer or employee, or member of his immediate family, from representing himself or themselves, in negotiations or proceedings concerning his, or their, own interests.
The following officials and employees of the Township shall annually file a financial disclosure statement, in the form prescribed by the Local Finance Board, which statement shall include all information required to be disclosed by the Local Government Ethics Law. Financial disclosure statements shall be filed on or before April 30 in each year for the proceeding year.
A.
Members of the Township Committee.
B.
The Township Clerk.
C.
The Township Administrator.
D.
The Township Attorney.
E.
The Township Engineer.
F.
The Township Auditor.
G.
The Township Planner.
H.
The Tax Assessor.
I.
The Township Prosecutor.
J.
The Chief of Police.
K.
The Captains of the Police Department.
L.
The Planning Board Attorney.
M.
The members of Planning Board.
N.
The Board of Adjustment Attorney.
O.
The members of the Board of Adjustment.
P.
The members of the Mobile Home Park Stabilization Board.
Q.
The Attorney for the Mobile Home Park Stabilization Board.
R.
The Construction Officer.
S.
The Land Use Officer.
T.
The Code Enforcement Officer.
U.
The Superintendent of Public Works.
V.
The members of the Joint Board of Fire Prevention.
W.
The Fire Official.
X.
The Chief Financial Officer.
Y.
The Tax Collector.
Z.
The Bond Counsel.