City of Camdenton, MO Chapter 155 Code of Conduct

Section 155.010 Code Of Conduct For Officials.

[Ord. No. 2936-23, 2-7-2023]

A. Overview. The City of Camdenton adopts the following Code of Conduct to assure that all elected and appointed officials, while exercising their office and in office, conduct themselves in a manner that will instill public confidence and trust in the fair operation and integrity of Camdenton's City government.

B. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Chapter:

ABUSE/ABUSIVE

Treat a person with cruelty or violence.

BULLY/BULLYING

Intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment that is repetitive or is substantially likely to be repeated and causes a reasonable person to fear for his or her physical safety or property.

CENSURE

Express severe disapproval in a formal statement.

CITY

The City of Camdenton, Missouri, and its municipal government, a 4th Class City.

CONDUCT

The way one acts; personal behavior, includes any act or omission.

COURTESY

Politeness and kindness.

DEFAMATORY

Making a false oral or written statement damaging to a person's reputation.

EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Something markedly greater than the level of uneasiness, nervousness, unhappiness, or the like which are commonly experienced in day-to-day living.

FALSE

Not according to truth or fact.

GROSSLY INACCURATE

Not accurate, correct or truthful in a material way.

HARASS/HARASSING

Aggressive pressure or intimidation; or unwanted behavior, physical or verbal, that makes or could make a reasonable person feel emotional distress.

IMPROPRIETY

A failure to observe standards or show due honesty; improper language, behavior or character.

INTIMIDATE/INTIMIDATION

To deliberately frighten or threaten.

MEMBERS

Shall mean the Mayor, persons elected or appointed to the Board of Aldermen, all other elected and appointed officials of the City, and persons elected or appointed to all Boards, Committees and Commissions.

THREATEN/THREATENING

Hostile or deliberately frightening toward another individual.

C. Conduct When Carrying Out Official Duties. Members shall conduct themselves in accordance with the following when carrying out their official duties:

1. Act In The Public Interest. Recognizing that stewardship of the public interest must be their primary concern. Members will work for the common good of the people of the City of Camdenton and not for any private or personal interest, and they will assure fair and equal treatment of all persons, claims and transactions coming before them.

2. Comply With Both The Spirit And Letter Of The Law And City Policy. Members shall comply with the laws of the nation, State and City of Camdenton and the policies of the City in the performance of their duties. Conduct which would constitute a felony in the State of Missouri shall be cause for removal from office.

3. Conduct Of Members. The professional and personal conduct of members, while exercising the duties of their offices, must be above reproach and avoid the appearance of impropriety. Members shall refrain from abusive conduct, harassing conduct, threats, intimidation, defamatory statements and personal charges or verbal attacks upon the character and motives of other members, City employees or the public.

4. Respect For Process. Members shall perform their duties in accordance with the processes and rules of order established.

5. Conduct At Meetings. Members shall prepare themselves for public issues, listen courteously and attentively to all public discussions before the body and focus on the business at hand. Members shall observe the rules of order that apply to such meetings.

6. Conflict Of Interest. Members shall not use their official positions to influence government decisions in which they have a financial interest, personal relationship which may give the appearance of a conflict of interest or a strong personal bias. Chapter 119 of this code regarding conflicts of interest shall be observed for those persons designated in said Chapter.

7. Confidential Information. No information which is considered confidential shall be disclosed by members without proper authorization. Members shall not use such confidential information to advance their personal, financial, or other private interests.

8. Respect For Chain Of Command. Members shall treat all City employees as professionals, avoid disrupting staff from their work, avoid publicly criticizing an individual employee, and avoid becoming involved with administrative functions. Members should follow the chain of command with respect to questions or concerns regarding City business, policies, procedures, or actions.

D. Conduct In Public.

1. Representation. Members shall use their best efforts before the media and when on social media to differentiate when they are representing the City and when they are acting in their individual capacity. Members appearing in front of other government agencies or organizations to give a statement on an issue, whether in writing or at an in-person meeting, should clearly state whether such statement is: 1) their own personal opinion, or 2) if they are representing the City in any capacity. The member shall advise the City Clerk when they have appeared at a meeting representing the City in any manner or if they have given any official statement in their official capacity. The City Clerk shall be given a copy of any written statements made in their official capacity.

2. Actions By Members. When exercising the duties of office, members shall not intimidate, harass, bully, abuse, threaten to abuse, threaten or make defamatory statements about or toward any individual. Members shall not represent the City or make statements to or involving City employees or other members with regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

3. Social Media. Members should avoid using social media in a manner that posts information which is false or grossly inaccurate. Members should not use social media to intimidate, harass, bully, abuse, threaten to abuse, threaten or make defamatory statements about or toward any individual. When posting on official social media maintained by the City or any other political entities, members shall state: "The opinions and positions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the City." Members shall avoid making social media postings which would in any way represent the City regarding issues involving race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

E. Violations. Members violating these provisions shall be subject to censure or removal from office.