§ 2-172. Code of ethics.

(a)

Prohibited conduct. Public officials and employees of the city 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 is not 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 city unless he has made full public disclosure of the nature and extent of such employment or services;

(5)

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

(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 an official or employee, or any other person, or any property or governmental affairs of the city, 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 council 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 the hearing, the council shall, in written findings of fact and conclusions based on such facts, make a determination concerning the propriety of the conduct of the official or employee in question.

(Code 1979, § 3-102)