The Council shall prescribe by law a code of ethics, and provide for the enforcement
and penalties for violations thereof, covering all elected and appointed officers
and employees of the County paid in whole or in part from County funds, and including
persons appointed to serve on boards and commissions established by law. The code
of ethics shall provide for the regulation of ex parte communications and for the
disqualification of any person participating in the decision process, if there is
a conflict between his official duties and his private interests. The code of ethics
shall also provide for the establishment of a five-member board to administer the
code. Members of such board, to be known as the Board of Ethics, shall be appointed
by the County Executive and confirmed by the Council for staggered terms. A member
of the board can only be removed by the County Executive subject to approval by the
Council. Not more than three members of the Board shall be members of the same political
party.
