Source: https://www.ecode360.com/15290659
Timestamp: 2019-01-17 15:23:28
Document Index: 3672116

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 69', '§ 19', '§ 69', '§ 69']

Village of Dane, WI Ethics
§ 69-3 Adoption of statutory provisions.
§ 69-4 Responsibility of public office.
§ 69-5 Dedicated service.
§ 69-6 Fair and equal treatment.
§ 69-7 Conflicts of interest.
§ 69-8 Advisory opinions.
§ 69-9 Hiring relatives.
§ 69-10 Sanctions.
§ 69-11 Outside employment.
§ 69-12 Violations and penalties.
Chapter 69 Ethics
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Dane 4-1-1996 as Title 2, Ch. 5, of the 1996 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that government decisions and policy be made in 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 in this chapter a Code of Ethics for all Village of Dane officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid, including members of boards, committees and commissions of the Village, as well as any individuals who are candidates for elective office as soon as such individuals file nomination papers with the Village.
The purpose of this Ethics Code is to establish guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for all such officials and employees by setting forth those acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the Village of Dane and by directing disclosure by such officials and employees of private financial or other interests in matters affecting the Village. The Village Board believes that a Code of Ethics for the guidance of elected and appointed officials and employees will help them avoid conflicts between their personal interests and their public responsibilities, will improve standards of public service and will promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the citizens of this Village in their elected and appointed officials and employees. The Village Board hereby reaffirms that each elected and appointed Village official and employee holds his or her position as a public trust, and any intentional effort to realize substantial personal gain through official conduct is a violation of that trust. The provisions and purpose of this Ethics Code and such rules and regulations as may be established are hereby declared to be in the best interests of the Village of Dane.
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., or hospitality extended for a purpose unrelated to Village business by a person other than a firm, corporation, partnership or joint venture.[1]
Any interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or from close business or political associations, whether or not any financial interest is involved. Specifically, by blood or marriage, "personal interest" means the following relationships: spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, first cousin, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, brother, stepbrother, sister or stepsister.[2]
Any person excluded from the definition of a "public official" who is employed by the Village.
Owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, at least 10% or $5,000 of the outstanding stock or at least 10% or $5,000 of any business.
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.
Any nonelected official, other than a Village employee, who has a financial interest or personal interest in any proposed legislative action of the Village Board or any board, commission or committee, upon which the official has any influence or input or of which the official is a member, that is to make a recommendation or decision upon any item which is the subject of the proposed legislative action shall disclose on the records of the Village Board or the appropriate board, commission or committee the nature and extent of such interest. Such official shall not participate in debate or discussion or vote for adoption or defeat of such legislation.
Any Village employee who has a financial interest or personal interest in any proposed legislative action of the Village Board or any board, commission or committee, upon which the employee has any influence or input or of which the employee is a member, that is to make a recommendation or decision upon any item which is the subject of the proposed legislative action shall disclose on the records of the Village Board or the appropriate board, commission or committee the nature and extent of such interest.
Incompatible employment. No official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render service for private interest when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties or would tend to impair such official's or employee's independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties, unless otherwise permitted by law and unless disclosure is made as hereinafter provided.
No official or employee shall accept or offer to accept anything of value from any person who, to his or her knowledge, is interested, directly or indirectly, or is seeking an interest, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the Village or from any person who conducts activities which are regulated by the Village or from any person who has interests which may be substantially affected by actions of the Village.
Elected Village officials may appear before Village agencies on behalf of constituents in the course of their duties as representatives of the electorate or in the performance of public or civic obligations. However, the disclosure requirements of Subsection E(1) above shall be applicable to such appearances.
Ad hoc committee exceptions. No violation of the conflict of interest restrictions of this section shall exist, however, where an individual serves on a special ad hoc committee charged with the narrow responsibility of addressing a specific issue or topic in which that individual, or the employer or a client of that individual, has an interest, so long as the individual discloses to the Village Board that such interest exists.
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 2-5-7(h), Disclosure of interest in legislation, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
When an official or employee has doubt as to the applicability of a provision of this chapter, 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 chapter 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.
This section governs the proposed hiring of individuals for full-time or part-time work as Village employees who are members of the immediate family of Village employees or elected officials. "Immediate family" includes those relatives by blood or marriage defined in § 69-2 as "personal interest."
Hiring an immediate family member of any current Village employee or elected Village official will be considered only if that individual has the knowledge and skills, experience or other job-related qualifications that warrant consideration for the position. It is required that either the current employee or the relative seeking employment will make the personal interest relationship known to the hiring authority (department head, Village board or commission or Village Board) before a hiring decision is made.
§ 69-12 Violations and penalties. [1]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.