County workers must treat the public fairly and avoid conflicts of interest

(a) Officers and employees of the County, while discharging their duties and dealing with the public, shall adhere to the following precepts: (1) All public property and equipment are to be treated as a public trust and are not to be used in a proprietary manner or for personal purposes without proper consent. (2) No person in a supervisory capacity shall engage in personal or business relationships with subordinates, which might intimidate said subordinates in the discharge of their official duties. (3) All persons shall be treated in a courteous, fair, and impartial manner. (b) No officer or employee shall use or attempt to use the officer’s or employee’s official position to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, exemptions, advantages, contracts, or treatment, for oneself or others, including but not limited to the following: (1) Seeking other employment or contract for services for oneself by the use or attempted use of the officer’s or employee’s office or position. (2) Accepting, receiving, or soliciting compensation or other consideration for the performance of the officer’s or employee’s official duties or responsibilities except as provided by law. 2-31 SUPP. 18 (7-2025) (3)Soliciting, selling, or otherwise engaging in a substantial financial transaction with a subordinate or a person or business whom the officer or employee inspects or supervises in the officer’s or employee’s official capacity. (4) Using County property, facilities, equipment, time, or personnel for private business, campaign purposes, or for any purpose other than for a public purpose. (c) An officer or employee of the County, or a business in which an officer or employee or the officer or employee’s immediate family member has a controlling interest, may contract for goods or services with any County agency provided that: (1) The nature of the relationship between the officer or employee and the County is provided in full disclosure to the agency seeking goods or services as part of the bid for a contract or response to a request for proposals; and (2) The officer or employee has obtained an opinion from the board that there is no conflict of interest resulting from the officer or employee’s position with the County. A board opinion shall continue to satisfy this requirement until a change occurs in the financial interest or role of the County officer, employee, or the officer or employee’s affected immediate family member in the business or undertaking with which the contract is concerned. In the event an opinion by the board was not obtained in advance of submitting a bid, the officer or employee shall instead submit a copy of a letter or petition requesting review by the board. A contract shall be void if an officer or employee fails to comply with these disclosure requirements or if the board finds there is a conflict of interest or any preferential treatment involved. (d) Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit an officer from introducing bills and resolutions, serving on committees or from making statements or taking action in the exercise of the officer’s legislative functions. Every officer shall file a full and complete public disclosure of the nature and extent of the interest or transaction which the officer believes may be affected by legislative action. (2002, ord 02-109, sec 4; am 2015, ord 15-103, sec 3; am 2025, ord 25-38, sec 5.) 2-83