[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Lincoln 10-22-1992 by Ord. No. 92-15 (Ch. 2, Art. IV, Div. 3, of the 1990 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
CHARTER REFERENCES
Financial interest of officers and employees prohibited — See § C17-9.
GENERAL REFERENCES
Boards and commissions — See Ch. 5.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 40.
STATE LAW REFERENCES
Rhode Island Code of Ethics in Government — See R.I.G.L. §§ 36-14-4 through 36-14-7.
A. 
The Town Council has determined that it is in the public interest to enact and impose a Code of Ethics for the purpose of ethical standard for our elected officials, appointed officials and Town employees.
B. 
The Town Council has determined the Code of Ethics to be used as a tool of government never to be predominated.
C. 
The Town Council has determined the Code of Ethics directive to be honest and open government without political overtures, and enable a legacy of unquestionable integrity for all future leaders of our Town.
D. 
The Town Council has determined that all of its public officials must adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct, respect the public trust and the rights of all persons, be open, accountable and responsive, avoid the appearance of impropriety and not use their position for private gain or advantage. It is the intent of this chapter that all public officials in the Town shall be fully subject to the Rhode Island Code of Ethics under the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.
A. 
Municipal vendor's disclosure.
(1) 
All vendors, all officers and directors of companies doing business with the Town, who made political contributions in excess of $100 under their own name or company name, who provide goods or services to the Town at a cost of $1,000 shall execute, under oath, an affidavit concerning reportable contributions pursuant to Title 17, Chapter 25, of the Rhode Island General Laws. The affidavit shall state whether the vendor has, within 24 months preceding the date of the written or unwritten contract or agreement, contributed an aggregate amount in excess of $100 to any Lincoln elected official or candidate or any political party. If the answer to that question is in the affirmative, then the affidavit shall list the name of the elected official(s), candidate(s) or political party, the amount and date of each such contribution made during the preceding 24 months, and the total gross amount, in dollars, of contracts entered into between the state vendor and all Lincoln agencies during said period of time. Each affidavit shall be filed with the Town Clerk (or wherever contracts are filed). Any vendor found to have violated the terms of this section shall be considered not qualified to bid on or submit a proposal for the Town contracts for a period of one year from the date of violation.
(2) 
The administration shall ensure public access to all requests for proposals, bids submitted, memoranda of understanding, contracts, and other agreements in keeping with the Public Records Act.[1] Copies of affidavits related to campaign contributions as specified in this section shall be attached to any such bids, memoranda, contracts, or agreements.
[1]
Editor's Note: See R.I.G.L. § 38-3-1 et seq.
B. 
Nepotism prohibited. No elected or appointed official serving the Town shall use his or her office to benefit himself/herself or any business associate or any person within his or her family in any way prohibited in the Rhode Island Code of Ethics. Persons within the family shall include a spouse or any person who is related to an official, whether by blood, adoption or marriage, as any of the following: father, mother, son, daughter, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother or half-sister.
C. 
No elected official shall accept any gift, thing, favor, membership, tickets, loans, or promise that exceeds $100 that would not be offered or given to him or her if he or she were not an elected official.
D. 
No elected official or appointed official shall directly or through any other person threaten or intimidate or retaliate against any Town employee or other person who may file an ethics complaint against the official; no elected or appointed official shall directly or through any other person threaten or intimidate or retaliate against any Town employee or other person who may notify members of the press about possible wrongdoing under terms of this chapter or the Rhode Island Code of Ethics.