Sec. 2-4-30. General guidelines.
(a) Proper democratic government requires that Town officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people of the Town; that decisions, policies and laws be made through proper government channels; that public office or employment not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.
(b) Town officials and employees are agents of public purpose, who should hold office and employment as a public trust for the benefit of the people.
(c) Town officials and employees are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Colorado and the Home Rule Charter of the Town, to carry out impartially the laws of the Nation, State and Town, and to observe the highest standards of integrity and fairness. They must discharge the duties of office and employment faithfully, regardless of personal considerations. Their conduct must be above reproach, and they should avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest or improper influence in the performance of official duties.
(d) All Town officials and employees should be aware of and responsive to objectives expressed by the electorate, directly through the election process or through the Town Council, and to the programs developed to attain those objectives. They should not breach the law or ask others to do so. They should not exceed their authority and should work in cooperation with other Town officials, employees and the public unless prohibited by law, confidentiality or the provisions of this Code.
(e) All Town officials and employees should be guided by the following general directives in dealing with potential conflicts of interest and ethical conduct in public office or employment:
(1) Town officials and employees should attempt to minimize and avoid any conflict of interest and the appearance of any conflict of interest. To this end, a Town official or employee should be fully aware of the extent of his or her personal or financial interest and, where possible, should avoid, dispose of or minimize such interest which could result in conflicts of interest.
(2) Town officials and employees should avoid the receipt of any compensation, gift, economic benefit tantamount to a gift of substantial value, payment of expenses, reward, gratuity or any item of value tendered by a person or on behalf of a person who is an interested party in some particular matter to be proposed or which is pending before the governing body.
(3) Town officials and employees should attempt to avoid incompatible employment and shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept private employment, render services for private interests or conduct a private business when such employment, service or business creates a conflict of interest or impairs the proper discharge of his or her official duties.
(4) A Town official or employee should disclose any conflict of interest of any other official or employee when he or she has a good faith belief that such a conflict may or does exist. The disclosure should be made to the chairperson of the board or commission, or to the Town Manager, as appropriate. In addition, whenever any Town official participates in any quasi-judicial matter as defined in Section 2-4-20 above and the Town official has a good faith belief that any member of the board or commission participating in the quasi-judicial proceeding may have or has a bias as defined in Section 2-5-40 of this Chapter, such Town official should disclose such bias to the chair-person of the board or commission, as the case may be. (Prior code 4.18.030; Ord. 1246 §1, 2006; Ord. 1288 §1, 2008)