[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Evesham
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-7-2006 by Ord. No. 4-2-2006]
Political contributions have a profound impact on government decisionmaking.
New Jersey law does not ban or regulate solicitation or acceptance of contributions
by public office holders, employees, or candidates for public office while
on public property or through the use of public facilities. A conflict may
arise between the business of political fundraising and the business of government
in the Township Municipal Building, and this may cause a distraction from
the public business. The most appropriate method to prevent this conflict
and to ensure the integrity of government decisions is the prohibition of
political fundraising on or through the use of the Municipal Building. It
is accordingly found and determined that the paramount public interest in
a clean and accountable government requires the prohibition of political fundraising
on or through the use of the Municipal Building.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
- CANDIDATE
- Any individual seeking election to a public office of the federal government, state, county, municipality, school district or political organization at an election.
- CONTRIBUTION
- Includes all loans and transfers of money or other thing of value to or by any candidate, elected official or political organization, and all pledges or other commitments or assumptions of liability to make any such transfer. Contributions shall be deemed to have been made upon the date when such commitment is made or liability assumed.
- POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
- Means any two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership or any other incorporated or unincorporated association which is organized to or does aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or candidates for federal, state, county, municipal or school board office. "Political organization" includes, but is not limited to, organizations otherwise defined as "political committee," "joint candidates committee," and "legislative leadership committee."
- MUNICIPALITY
- The Township of Evesham and any officer, department, board, commission, or agency thereof.
- MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL, EMPLOYEE AND APPOINTEE
- Any person holding elective municipal office or holding an appointed position in the municipal government, or in any agency, commission, board, or office thereof, whether the position is full-time or part-time, compensated or uncompensated, and any employee of municipal government or in any agency, commission, board, or office thereof, whether the position is full-time or part-time.
- SOLICIT
- To seek by oral or written communication a contribution as same is defined herein.
No municipal official, employee or appointee may solicit, commit to
pay, or receive payment of or a commitment to pay any contribution for any
candidate, elected official or political organization while in or on the property
of the Municipal Building. This includes the parking lots, sidewalks, and
other areas within the boundaries of Block 45, Lots 1 and 2 on the Evesham
Township tax map.
Prohibited forms of fundraising shall include but are not limited to:
A.
Soliciting or accepting contributions using Municipal
Building telephones, fax machines or computers.
B.
Soliciting or accepting contributions using personal
telephones while on the property of the Municipal Building.
C.
Soliciting or accepting contributions through the use
of publicly owned computers or privately owned personal computers while on
the property of the Municipal Building.
D.
Sending correspondence from the Municipal Building or
by use of Township services, equipment or postage.
E.
Face-to-face soliciting of an individual or an owner
or representative of a business entity while on the property of the Municipal
Building.
It shall be unlawful for any employee, elected official or appointee
to be dismissed, reprimanded, retaliated against or otherwise intimidated
for reporting violations under this article.
Violation of any provision of this article shall be punished by a period
of community service not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $2,000,
or both.
