6.32.030 Scope of chapter.
A. The Assembly reaffirms that the Borough Mayor holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust. In addition, the Assembly finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of the Mayor’s public duties and responsibilities, this chapter does not prevent the Mayor from following other independent pursuits. The Assembly further recognizes that:
1. In a representative democracy, the representatives are drawn from society and, therefore, cannot and should not be without personal and financial interests in the decisions and policies of government;
2. People who serve as Borough Mayor retain their rights to interests of a personal or financial nature; and
3. Standards of ethical conduct for the Mayor need to distinguish between those minor and inconsequential conflicts that are unavoidable in a free society, and those conflicts of interests that are substantial and material.
B. Unethical conduct is prohibited, but there is no substantial impropriety if, as to a specific matter, the Mayor’s:
1. Personal or financial interest in the matter is insignificant, or of a type that is possessed generally by the public or a large class of persons to which the Mayor belongs; or
2. Action or influence would have insignificant or conjectural effect on the matter. (Ord. 2002-08 § 2, 2002. 2004 Code § 2.25.110.)