6.12.010 Violations.
Specific ethical violations are enumerated below for the guidance of public officials, but these do not necessarily encompass all the possible ethical considerations that might arise.
A. Special Consideration. A public official shall not grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.
B. Authority. A public official shall not exceed their authority, or breach the law, or ask or coerce others to do so in the course of their official public duties.
C. Other Offices or Employment. A public official shall not hold or seek other office or employment which compromises the performance of their elected or appointed duties without disclosure of such office or employment. A public official shall disqualify themselves from any particular action which might be compromised by such office or employment.
D. Use of Confidential Information.
1. A public official shall not use or disclose confidential information without appropriate authorization.
2. A public official shall not use or disclose information gained as a public official that is not yet published in any form by the Borough or is not generally made available to the public to gain, directly or indirectly, anything of value.
3. This provision shall not prevent any public official from reporting violations of this division or other illegal acts to the proper authorities.
E. Solicitation of or Receipt of Anything of Value. A public official shall not solicit or accept anything of value from any person or entity other than the Borough, directly or indirectly, in consideration of some action to be taken or not to be taken in the performance of the public official’s duties. Gifts may be accepted as provided in Chapter 6.16 FNSBC.
F. Disclosure of Gift. A public official shall not fail to disclose a gift as set forth in Chapter 6.16 FNSBC.
G. Holding Investments or Property. A public official shall not hold any investment that might compromise the performance of the public official’s duties without disclosure of the investment and self-disqualification from any particular action that might be compromised by the investment.
H. Representation of Others.
1. A public official shall not represent any person in dealings with the Borough in consideration of anything of value except:
a. In a contested case which involves a party other than the Borough, and the interests represented by the public official are the Borough’s interests, are essentially the same as the Borough’s interests, or are not adverse to the Borough’s interests;
b. In a matter that involves only a ministerial action by a Borough department, i.e., the performance of a duty that is normally done in the course of business in which the officer is left with no choice of their own;
c. When the representation is by a public official acting within the scope of their official public duties;
d. When the representation is merely for the purpose of obtaining information on behalf of a person or business and the public official receives no compensation for the representation beyond the salary and other compensation or reimbursement to which the public official is entitled for the performance of their official public duties;
2. A public official shall be disqualified from acting on any matter or proceeding coming before the Assembly when the matter involves any person who is, or has been, a client, patient or other business associate of the public official within one year immediately preceding the date of the matter or proceeding and the matter or proceeding is directly related to the public official’s representation of that client, patient or other business associate of the public official; or
3. A public official shall not, within one year immediately following conclusion of service on the Assembly, represent, advise or assist a person for compensation regarding a matter that was under consideration by the Assembly and in which the public official participated personally and substantially through the exercise of official action. For the purposes of this subsection, “matter” means a case, proceeding, application, contract or determination, but does not include the proposal, consideration or enactment of legislation.
I. Financial Interest. A public official or a member of the public official’s immediate family shall not have a financial interest in any matter being considered by the public official. A public official shall disclose a financial interest, if known. The public official shall be disqualified from further participation in any matter in which the public official has a financial interest.
J. Borough Property. A public official shall not use Borough-owned property, fiscal, or human resources for personal convenience, political purposes, or profit, except when such property is available to the public generally, or where such property is provided by specific Borough policy in the conduct of official Borough business.
K. Giving Anything of Value. A public official shall not give anything of value in return for votes, promises, or other consideration that is prohibited by state law.
L. Expenses. A public official shall provide required documentation to support requests for expense reimbursement or advancement. Expense reimbursement and advancements shall be made in accordance with Borough policy.
M. Donations. Except as specifically authorized by law, a public official shall not take any official action which will benefit any person or entity because of a donation of anything of value to the Borough by the person or entity.
N. Official Action. A public official shall not take any official public action that will benefit any person or entity when the public official would not have taken the action but for the public official’s family relationship, friendship, or business relationship with the person or entity.
O. Representation of Assembly Position.
1. A public official shall not represent themselves as being the official authorized spokesperson for the Assembly on a given issue unless specially authorized by the Assembly.
2. A public official when making a public statement or otherwise taking a public position shall state that they are expressing a personal opinion unless authorized to speak in behalf of the Assembly.
P. Aiding a Violation. A public official shall not knowingly aid another public official in the violation of this division.
Q. Employment of Elected Public Official. An elected public official shall not accept employment with the Fairbanks North Star Borough while serving in office or within one year after conclusion of service for regular or term positions and within six months after conclusion of service for casual, temporary positions (including election workers).
R. Disclosure of Conflict of Interest. A public official shall not fail to disclose a conflict of interest.
S. Misrepresentation of a Material Fact. No person shall misrepresent a material fact in a response to a complaint filed under this division.
T. Disclosure of Confidential Information. No person shall disclose confidential information relating to a proceeding under this division. (Ord. 2021-42 § 2, 2022; Ord. 2019-09 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2006-69 § 2, 2006. 2004 Code § 2.10.120.)