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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-151-10/20/1981-ADOPTING A POLICY STATEMENT ON ETHICS RESOLUTION 81-151 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS ADOPTING A POLICY STATEMENT ON ETHICS WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Fort Collins recognizes that the proper operation of municipal government requires that Councilmembers of the City be independent and impartial , and WHEREAS, in an effort to provide for the proper operation of city government, the Council wishes to adopt a Policy Statement on Ethics which establishes guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for Councilmembers NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS Section 1 That the following be, and it hereby is, adopted as a "Policy Statement on Ethics" for the Council of the City of Fort Collins POLICY STATEMENT ON ETHICS 1 A Councilmember should constantly bear in mind the advisability of avoiding the creation of an appearance, or the raising of a suspicion, that said Councilmember is engaged in or is likely to engage in conduct that is in violation of the standards set forth herein 2 A Councilmember should represent and work for the common good of the people of the City of Fort Collins and not for private interests, assuring fair and equal treatment of all persons , claims, and trans- actions 3 A Councilmember should refrain from accepting gifts or favors or promises of future benefit which might compromise or tend to impair inde- pendence of judgment or actions as a Councilmember 4 A Councilmember should disclose all financial interests as requi► ed by the applicable state statutes, city ordinances and city char- ter Additionally, a Councilmember should disclose any personal interest which would tend to impair independence of judgment or action in the performance of official duties 5 A Councilmember should avoid any action which is or has the appearance of being a conflict of interest For the purposes of this policy, a conflict of interest is defined as engaging in any transaction or having any financial or personal interest, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of official duties in the public interest 6 A Councilmember should refrain from representing any person or interest for compensation before the City Council or any Board or Commis- sion of the City 7 A Councilmember should refrain from disclosing confidential information concerning the affairs of the City Further, a Council - member should refrain from the use of such confidential information to advance the financial or other private interests of the Councilmember or others Section 2 That a Board of Ethics be, and it hereby is, created in accordance with the following 1 In order to assist in administering this Ethics Policy, there is hereby created a Board of the City to be known as the "Board of Ethics", hereinafter referred to as the "Board" The Board shall consist of three (3) Councilmembers The City Attorney shall provide legal advice to the Board In the event that a complaint has been filed as hereafter provided against a Councilmember serving on the Board and the Council has requested that the Board review and recommend action on such complaint, the Council may, for the purposes of that particular hearing, temporarily appoint any other Councilmember to sit as a member of the Board 2 The Council may establish the duties and responsibilities of said Board of Ethics which may include a Receiving complaints of violations of this Ethics Policy b Hearing and investigating complaints as authorized by City Council and transmitting its findings to the City Council c Rendering advisory opinions or interpretations as authorized by City Council with respect to applicability of provisions of this Ethics Policy d Proposing revisions to the Policy Statement on Ethics to assure its continuing pertinence and effectiveness Complaints - Procedure Section 3 Any person who believes that a violation of any provision of the Policy Statement has occurred may file a complaint with the City Attorney Upon receipt of a complaint or when there is a question as to the applicability of a provision of this Policy Statement to a particular situation, the City Council may direct the Board of Ethics to issue an advisory opinion to the City Council Any Councilmember charged with violating any provisions of this Ethics Policy snall have the opportunity to present his/her interpretation of the facts at issue and of the appli- cable provisions of the Ethics Policy before such advisory decision is made All advisory decisions issued by the Board shall be maintained in a permanent file in the office of the City Clerk in order to provide an historical record of all interpretations of the Ethics Policy rendered by the Board -2- Violations Section 4 Violation of the Policy Statement on Ethics may constitute a cause for public censure by the City Council After filing of a com- plaint and upon receipt by the City Council of the recommendation of the Board of Ethics if the Council has requested such recommendation, the Council shall determine, by majority vote, what action is appropriate for the instant case The action of the Council in considering any matter arising under this Code shall be final Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this 20th day of October —, 1981 ;'4o,�14"� ATTEST Ma or A City Clerk -3-