§ 2-210. Code of ethics.

(a)

Prohibited conduct. Public officials and employees of the county shall treat all citizens with courtesy, impartiality, fairness, and equality under the law, and shall avoid both actual and potential conflicts between their private self-interest and the public interest. Prohibited conduct of each such official and employee shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1)

Granting or making available to any person any special consideration, treatment, advantage, or favor beyond that which it is the general practice to grant or make available to the public at large;

(2)

Requesting, using, or permitting the use of any publicly owned or publicly supported property, vehicle, equipment, labor, or service for the personal convenience or the private advantage of himself or any other person, except as otherwise allowed by law;

(3)

Participating in the deliberation of or voting on any matter involving his financial or personal interest;

(4)

Engaging in private employment with, or rendering services for, any private person who has business transactions with the county, unless he has made full public disclosure of the nature and extent of such employment or services;

(5)

Appealing on behalf of any private person, other than himself, before any public body in the county;

(6)

Accepting any gift, whether in the form of money, thing, favor, loan, or promise, that would not be offered or given to him if he were not an official or employee;

(7)

Disclosing any confidential information concerning any official or employee, or any other person, or any property or governmental affairs of the county without prior formal authorization of the governing body;

(8)

Using or permitting the use of confidential information to advance the financial or personal interest of himself or any other person; or

(9)

Appointing or voting for the appointment of any person related to him by blood or marriage to fill an office, position, employment, or duty, when the salary, wages, pay, or compensation is to be paid out of public funds.

(b)

Hearings and determinations. Upon the sworn complaint of any person alleging facts which, if true, would constitute a violation of this section, the board shall conduct a public hearing at which the accused shall be given an opportunity to be heard, either personally or through counsel. At the conclusion of said hearing, the board shall, in written findings of fact and conclusions based thereon, make a determination concerning the propriety of the conduct of the official or employee in question.

(Code 1998, § 3-102)