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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance Draft-Adding Sec 2.81f ~~ -~~ ~ i ORDINANCE NO. - SECOND SERIES ~ - - ~-~ ~~~~ ~~ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS 8Y ADDING SEC. 2.81, ESTABLISHING AN ETHICS CODE FOR CERTAIN CITY EMPLOYEES, COMMISSIONERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS The City Council of the City of Hastings hereby ordains as follows: The City Code of the City of Hastings is hereby amended by adding to said Code Sec. 2.81 which shall read as follows: Sec. 2.81 CODE OF ETHICS. Subd. 1. Definitions. As used in this ordinance, "Public Officials" shall mean only the following persons: (a) All persons elected to serve in any public office, or appointed to serve in any public office for the unexpired term of any person vacating said office. (b) All appointed Commissioners serving on City Commissions. (c} City Administrator. (d} City Attorney (e) All City Department Heads. (f) City Clerk Subd. 2. Declaration of Polley, The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials be independent, impartial, and responsible to the people; that governmental decisions and policy be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that public office not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of these goals there is hereby established by this Ordinance, a Code of Ethics. The purpose of this code is to establish ethical standards of conduct. The provisions and purpose of this code are hereby declared to be in the best interest of the City of Hastings, Minnesota. Subd. 3. Res onsibi7ities of Public Office. Public officials 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, the Constitution of Minnesota and to impartially carry out the laws of the nation, state and the City of Hastings and thus foster respect for all government. They are bound 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 primary concern. Their conduct in both their official and private affairs should be above reproach. Subd. 4. Dedicated Service. {a} All public officials of the City of Hastings should be loyal to the political objectives expressed by the electorate and the programs developed to attain those objectives. {b) Public officials should not exceed their authority or break the law, ar ask others to do so, They should work in full cooperation with other public officials unless prohibited from doing so by law. Subd. 5. Fair and E ual Treatment. (a) No public official shall request ar permit the use of City owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property far personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or provided by municipal policy for the use of such publ i c official i n the conduct of official business. (b} No public official shall grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is .available to every other citizen. Subd. b. Conflict of Interest. (a} No public official shall engage in any business or transaction ar shall have a financial or other personal interest direct ar indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of their duties in the public interest or which impairs their independence of judgment or action in the perf ormance of thei r off i ci al duties. Thi s i ncl udes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships, close business or political association. {b) The following acts, although- not intended to be all- inclusive, shall be deemed to be a conflict of interest: {1) Incompatible employment as provided by ~linnesata Statutes. {2) i~se of confidential inf ormatian, obtained as a result of public position, for personal gain. {3} Soliciting of personal gifts and favors 6y a public official . (4) Use of official position for personal gain. (5) Representation by a public official of private interests before City governmental agencies and participation in the profits from such representation, (5) Contracting with public official interest. the City by a business in which a has a substantial or controlling Subd. 7. Public Disclosure. (a) PJot later than ninety (90) days after the date of this ordinance, each public official of the City of Hastings shall file for public record in the office of the City Clerk, a sworn statement in a form approved by the City Council by resolution and which must contain, at a minimum, the following information: (1) The names of all businesses, corporations, companies, firms, partnerships, or other business enterprises, doing business with or in the City of Hastings, in which said public official is connected thereto as an employee, owner, director, officer, adviser or consultant, or in which said public official has a continuing financial interest, through ownership of stock or as a beneficiary of any pension or retirement plan. - {2} A description of all parcels of real property, other than property occupied 6y said public official as a personal residence, in which said public official has any interest, including the right to occupy any such property. {3) The interest of a spouse, or minor Child or other member of the immediate household of any public official shall be considered an interest of said public official far purposes of fi i i ng the statement requi red. (b} Each person who becomes a public official shall within thirty (30) days after assuming such office or position, file a public disclosure required by this subdivision. (c} Within ninety {9Q) days after each anniversary date of the initial filing, all public officials shall file a new sworn statement as required by this subdivision, (d} This ordinance shat l not be construed to requi re the fi 1 i ng of any information relating to any person's connection with any professional society or any charitable, religious, social, fraternal, recreational, civil or political organization ar any similar organization not conducted as a business enterprise. - (e) The City Rdministrator shall inform each person who is required to fi 1 e a sta~snent, the time and place for f i 1 i ng, and shall furnish eac such person with a copy of this ordi Hance and the required statement form. The City Adr~i ni strator shal l inform the City Counci 1 when any person, who is required to file a statement, fails to file said statement in a timely manner." - VIOL.ATIOfV A MISD£MEAfVOR. Every person violates a Section, Subdivision, Paragraph ar Provision of this Chapter when they perform an act thereby prohibited or declared unlawful, or fails to act when such failure is thereby prohibited or declared unlawful, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as far a misdemeanor, except as otherwise stated in specific provisions hereof. Adapted by the City Council of the City of Hastings this day of I989. This Ordinance shall be effective upon passage and seven days after publication. ~y LuRnn StoffeT, Mayor ATTEST: Barbara C, Thompson, City Clerk