(a) A Town official who is a member of a governing body should not engage in or receive any verbal ex parte communication involving the substance or merits of a quasi-judicial matter pending before such governing body, including a work session or public hearing thereon, if such communication is intended to influence the official’s decision or conduct in order to obtain favored treatment or special consideration, or to advance personal or financial interests of an interested party.

(b) Notice of the general time, place and content of any verbal ex parte communication to a Town official involving the substance or merits of a quasi-judicial matter pending before the governing body of which the official is a member shall be entered into the record of the proceeding to which it relates by the recipient. The governing body may require the particulars of the ex parte communication to be stated and entered into the record, and may permit cross-examination thereon to determine the existence of bias, prejudgment or prejudice. Any written ex parte communication involving the substance or merits of a quasi-judicial matter shall be announced and entered into the record of the hearing to which it relates by the recipient, regardless of its intended purpose.

(c) Any Town official who has engaged in any such ex parte communication shall be deemed disqualified with respect to any proceeding to which the communication relates unless he or she can affirmatively demonstrate that the communication has not made it manifestly impossible for him or her to act objectively and impartially.

(d) This Section is not intended to otherwise preclude access to Town officials or employees acting in their legislative or administrative capacities. (Prior code 4.18.100; Ord. 1246 §1, 2006)