No officer or employee of the County, whether elected or appointed, shall in any manner
whatsoever be interested in, or receive any benefit from, the profits or emoluments
of any contract, job, work, or service for the County. No such officer or employee
shall accept any service or thing of value, directly or indirectly, upon more favorable
terms than those granted to the public generally, from any person, firm, or corporation
having dealings with the County; nor shall he receive, directly or indirectly, any
part of any fee, commission, or other compensation paid or payable by the County,
or by any person in connection with any dealings with the County, or by any person
in connection with any dealings or proceedings before any agency of the County government.
No such officer or employee shall directly or indirectly be the broker or agent who
procures or receives any compensation in connection with the procurement of any type
of bonds for County officers, employees, persons, or firms doing business with the
County. No such officer or employee shall solicit any compensation or gratuity in
the form of money or otherwise for any act or omission in the course of his public
work, except as provided by law or interstate compact; provided that the head of any
department or board of the County may permit an employee to receive a reward publicly
offered and paid for the accomplishment of a particular task. The provisions of this
Section shall be broadly construed and strictly enforced for the purpose of preventing
officers and employees from securing any pecuniary advantages, however indirect, from
their public associations, other than their compensation provided by law. In order
to guard against injustice, the Board of Ethics may, by resolution, specifically authorize
any County officer or employee to own stock in any corporation or to maintain a business
in connection with any person, firm, or corporation dealing with the County, if, on
full public disclosure of all pertinent facts to the Board of Ethics by such officer
or employee, the Board of Ethics shall determine that such stock ownership or connection
does not violate the public interest. Any officer or employee of the County who willfully
violates any of the provisions of this Section shall forfeit his office. If any person
shall offer, pay, refund, or rebate any part of any fee, commission, or other form
of compensation to any officer or employee of the County in connection with any County
business or proceeding, he shall, on conviction, be punishable by imprisonment for
not less than one or more than six months or a fine of not less than $100.00 or more
than $1,000.00, or both. Any contract made in violation of this Section may be declared
void by the County Executive or by resolution of the Council. The penalties in this
Section shall be in addition to all other penalties provided by law.
