of Ethics Online Collection: None
COUNCIL ON LOCAL MANDATES CODE OF ETHICS
The Rules of Ethical Conduct that are contained in this Code are in addition to the provisions of the “New Jersey Conflicts
of Interest Law” P.L. 1971, c. 182, including those restated in Attachment 1 hereto and made a part hereof.
I. General Provisions applicable to Council Members.
A. Council Impartiality
1. A member shall impartially hear and decide all matters that come before the Council.
2. A member shall perform his/her duties without bias or prejudice. A member shall not, in the performance of Council
duties, by words or conduct manifest bias or prejudice, including but not limited to bias or prejudice based on race, sex,
religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.
3. A Council member shall neither initiate nor consider ex parte communications about substantive matters concerning a
pending or impending matter coming before the Council. The Council, or any of its members so authorized by the
Council, may with the consent of all parties confer separately with the parties or their counsel in an effort to mediate or
settle matters pending before the Council.
B. Disqualification. A Council member shall disqualify himself/herself from hearing and deciding any
matter when required to do so in accordance with applicable law or this Code of Ethics.
II. General Provisions Applicable to Council Employees
A. Performance of Duties.
1. Council employees shall uphold the Constitutions and laws of the United States and the State of New
Jersey, and shall faithfully carry out all duties assigned to his/her function.
2. Council employees shall endeavor at all times to perform official duties honestly, courteously, and with
diligence.
3. Council employees shall perform their duties without bias or prejudice. An employee shall not, in the performance of
Council duties, by words or conduct manifest bias or prejudice, including but not limited to bias or prejudice based on
race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
B. Protection of Confidential Information. A Council employee may not disclose to any unauthorized
person for any purpose any confidential information acquired in the course of employment, or
knowingly acquired through unauthorized disclosure by another. After termination of employment a
Council employee shall not disclose confidential information obtained in the course of employment.
C. Avoiding Actual or Apparent Impropriety. A Council employee shall observe high standards of
conduct so that the integrity and independence of the Council may be preserved, and shall avoid
impropriety or the appearance of impropriety.
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D. Avoiding Actual or Apparent Conflicts of Interest. Council employees shall regulate outside activities to
minimize the risk of conflict with Council-related duties.
E. Outside Employment.
1. Each full-time Council employee’s position with the Council must be the employee’s primary employment.
2. Any Council employee wishing to hold outside employment must obtain the consent of his/her supervisor no later
than ten days prior to the commencement of that employment.
F. Nepotism. All personnel transactions, including but not limited to selection, appointment,
promotion, transfer, and assignment of Council employees, shall be based on bona fide work
related factors and shall not be based on personal relationships or on any form of favoritism.
Attachment 1
General Standards of the Conflicts of Interest Law, N.J.S.A. 52:13D-12 et seq.
applicable to Council members and employees
1. No Council member or employee should have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in
any business or transaction or professional activity that is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his/her duties in
the public interest.
2. No Council member or employee should engage in any business, profession, trade or occupation that is subject
to licensing or regulation by an agency of State Government without promptly filing notice of such activity with the
Executive Commission on Ethical Standards.
3. No Council member or employee should use or attempt to use his/her official position to secure unwarranted
privileges or advantages for himself or herself or others.
4. No Council member or employee should act in his or her official capacity in any matter wherein he/she has a
direct or indirect personal financial interest that might reasonably be expected to impair his/her objectivity or independence
of judgment.
5. No Council member or employee should undertake any employment or service, whether compensated or not, that
might reasonably be expected to impair his/her objectivity and independence of judgment in the exercise of his/her official
duties.
6. No Council member or employee should accept any gift, favor, service, or other thing of value under
circumstances from which it might be reasonably inferred that such gift, service, or other thing of value was given or offered
for the purpose of influencing him/her in the discharge of his/her official duties.
7. No Council member or employee should knowingly act in any way that might reasonably be expected to create
an impression or suspicion among the public having knowledge of his/her acts that he/she may be engaged in conduct
violative of his/her trust as a Council member or employee.
N.J.S.A. 52:13D-93
COUNCIL ON LOCAL MANDATES
Certification of Outside Employment, Business, or License Held
Form to be completed by all Council members and employees, as provided below.
Member/Employee Name ___________________________________________
Official Title _________________________________ Functional Title ________________________
Work Phone _________________________________
Work Address ________________________________
Section A. To be completed by Council members and employees.
Do you hold a license, issued by the State of New Jersey or an agency of the State, to practice law, medicine, engineering,
accounting, etc. or to conduct a trade such as plumbing, electric, real estate, etc.?
Yes _____ No _____
If yes, please describe the type of license ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Section B. To be completed by Council employees.
1. Are you, or is any member of your immediate family, an employee or an owner, corporate officer,
subcontractor, or agent of any firm that provides goods or performs services to the State or any of its agencies?
Yes _____ No _____
If yes, please provide the name of the employer or firm, the name and relationship of the person associated with the firm (if
other than yourself), and the nature of goods or services provided.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Council on Local Mandates
Certification, Page 2
2. Do you have, or anticipate having, any outside employment or business while employed with the Council?
Yes ______ No ______
If yes, please provide the name of the employer, the type of business, the title or position held or to be held (including a
description of duties), and the number of hours involved in outside employment (on an average weekly basis).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Employees are reminded that outside employment must be approved in advance by his/her supervisor.
Section C. To be completed by Council members and employees.
I hereby certify that I have received a copy of the Council’s Code of Ethics on [insert date] and I acknowledge that
I am responsible for reading it and that I am bound by it. I further understand that I must refile this form if any of the
information provided in Sections A and B changes in the future, and that this form will be filed with the Executive
Commission on Ethical Standards and will be available for public review.
_______________________________ __________________________
Signature Date
Section D. Approval by Supervisor (for employees).
Do you anticipate that any outside employment or business as stated on this form will interfere with the employee’s work
performance, health or attendance?
_______ YES Why? _____________________________________________________________________
_______ NO
_______ APPROVED _______ DISAPPROVED
_________________________________________ _____________________
Signature and Title Date
SIGNED FORMS TO BE FORWARDED TO COUNCIL CHAIR
FOR FILING WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON ETHICAL STANDARDS
