Town of Bedford, NH Article VII Conduct of Officials

§ C7-1 Conditions for holding office.

A. Any person while in Town office convicted of a Class A felony in New Hampshire or its equivalent under the law of any other state or federal law shall forfeit such office.

B. No employee of the Town shall be eligible to serve as a Councilor.

C. Any person elected to a Town office or trusteeship while presently holding another such Town office, board membership, commission membership, or trusteeship shall immediately forfeit the office he held prior to such election.

D. Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, no department head nor regular employee of the Town shall be appointed to a Town office, board membership, commission membership, or trusteeship.

E. The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall not have any members who also serve on the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, or Historic District Commission.

§ C7-2 Conflicts of interest. [1]

A. Any elected or appointed officer or employee of the Town who has a financial interest, direct or indirect, in any planned or existing contract, job, work, or service to be performed for the Town or voluntary sale to the Town of any land, materials, supplies, equipment, or other property shall make full disclosure of such interest to the Council and Manager prior to the Town's deliberating on any such matter or transaction.

B. The person so financially interested in such matters or transactions shall not vote or advise on or otherwise participate in the Town's and Council's consideration of such matter or transaction.

C. Any conflict recognized under New Hampshire state law is deemed a conflict under this section.

[Added 3-10-2015]

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 13, Conflicts of Interest.

§ C7-3 Disqualification from decisionmaking process.

A. Reasons for disqualification. No elected or appointed officer or employee of the Town shall take part in a decision concerning the business of the Town in which he or a member of his family, directly or indirectly, has a financial or other gainful interest which may affect his vote in favor of or against that business, aside from his salary as such officer or employee, greater than any other citizen or taxpayer.

B. Definition of family. For the purposes of this section, the word "family" shall mean an individual's spouse, his or her spouse's lineal ascendants and lineal descendants, and his and her spouse's siblings and their offspring.

§ C7-4 Private use of Town property and personnel.

[Amended 3-10-2015]

No elected or appointed officer or employee shall devote any Town property or labor to private use except through an affirmative vote of five councilors, after a public hearing.

§ C7-5 Acceptance of gifts and gratuities.

No elected or appointed officer or employee of the Town shall solicit or accept any gift or gratuity which could, in any manner, be construed to affect or influence the performance of his official duties.

§ C7-6 Disposition of fees.

No elected or appointed officer or employee of the Town shall collect any fees, salaries, or other payments in connection with his official duties for his own use, except as provided for by ordinance or state law.

§ C7-7 Misuse of information.

No elected or appointed officer or employee of the Town shall utilize or dispense information gained through said office or employment for his or another's personal profit.