AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND SUBSTANTIAL INTERESTS FOR CERTAIN OFFICIALS
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF RICH HILL, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: The proper operation of government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial, and responsible to the people; that government decisions and policy be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that public office shall not be used for personal gain; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established a procedure for disclosure by certain officials and employees of private financial or other interests in matters affecting the city.
SECTION 2:
a. All elected and appointed officials as well as employees of a political subdivision, serving in an executive or administrative capacity, must comply with Section 105.454 RSMo on conflicts of interest as well as any other state law governing official conduct.
b. Any member of a governing body of a political subdivision who has a “substantial or private interest” in any measure, bill, order, or ordinance proposed or pending before such governing body must, before he passes on the measure, bill, order, or ordinance, disclose in writing that interest to the clerk of such body and such disclosure shall be recorded in the appropriate journal of the governing body. Substantial or private interest is defined as ownership by the individual, his spouse, or his dependent children, whether singularly or collectively, directly or indirectly of: (1) 10% or more of any business entity; or (2) an interest having a value of $10,000.00 or more; or (3) the receipt of a salary, gratuity or other compensation or re-numeration of $5,000.00 or more, per year, from any individual, partnership, organization or association within any calendar year.
SECTION 3: Each elected official, the chief administrative officer, the chief purchasing officer, and the full time general counsel shall disclose, in writing, the following information by May 1, with deadline procedures set forth below in SECTION 4, if any such transactions occurred during the previous calendar year:
a. For such person, and all persons within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity of such person, the date and the identities of the parties to each transaction with a total value in excess of $500.00, if any, that such person had with the political subdivision, other than compensation received as an employee or payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the political subdivision, and other than transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision.
b. The date and the identities of the parties to each transaction known to the person with a total value in excess of $500.00, if any, that any business entity in which such person had a substantial interest, had with the political subdivision, other than payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the political subdivision or transactions involving payment for providing utility service to the political subdivision, and other transfers for no consideration to the political subdivision.
c. The chief administrative officer and the chief purchasing officer also shall disclose by May 1 for the previous calendar year the following information:
1. The name and address of each of the employers of such person from whom income of $1,000.00 or more was received during the year covered by the statement;
2. The name and address of each sole proprietorship that he owned; the name, address and the general nature of the business conducted of each general partnership and joint venture in which he was a partner or participant; the name and address of each partner or co-participant for each partnership or joint venture unless such names and addresses are filed by the partnership or joint venture with the Secretary of State; the name, address and general nature of the business conducted of any closely held corporation or limited partnership in which the person owned 10% or more of any class of the outstanding stock or limited partnership units; and the name of any publicly traded corporation or limited partnership that is listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system in which the person owned 2% or more of any class of outstanding stock, limited partnership units, or other equity interests;
3. The name and address of each corporation for which such person served in the capacity of a director, officer or receiver.
SECTION 4:
a. The financial interest statements shall be filed at the following times, but no person is required to file more than one financial interest statement in any calendar year.
1. Every person required to file a financial interest statement shall file the statement annually not later than May 1 and the statement shall cover the calendar year ending the immediately preceding December 31; provided, that any member of the city council may supplement the financial interest statement to report additional interest acquired after December 31 of the covered year until the date of filing of the financial interest statement;
2. Each person appointed to office shall file the statement within 30 days of such appointment or employment
3. For purposes of timely filing, the deadline for filing any statement required by this ordinance shall be 5:00 P.M. of the last day designated for filing the statement. When the last day of filing, falls on a Saturday or Sunday or an official state holiday, the deadline for filing is extended to 5:00 P.M. on the next day which is not a Saturday or Sunday or official holiday. Any statement required within a specified time shall be deemed to be timely filed if it is postmarked not later than midnight of the day previous to the last day designated for filing the statement.
b. Financial interest statements giving the financial information required in SECTION 3 shall be filed with the City Clerk of Rich Hill, Missouri, and with the Secretary of State prior to January 1st. After January 1st, reports shall be filed with the City Clerk of Rich Hill, Missouri, and the Missouri Ethics Commission. The reports shall be available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours.
SECTION 5: All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, provided however, that this ordinance shall not affect any acts or the prosecution of any acts which may have occurred prior to the date of this ordinance.
SECTION 6: The invalidity of any section, clause, sentence or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the validity of any other part of this ordinance, which can be given effect without such invalid part or parts.
SECTION 7: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval as provided by law.
1ST READING 8TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021
2ND READING 8TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021
PASSED THIS 8TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021
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Nathan Kassner, President of the Board
ATTEST: Ayes: Kassner, Humble, Bonham, Thompson
Nays: None
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Casey Crews, City Clerk
CERTIFICATION BY THE CLERK
STATE OF MISSOURI )
) AS
COUNTY OF BATES )
I, Casey Crews, City Clerk of the CITY OF RICH HILL, in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing ordinance providing for is a true and correct copy of the Ordinance No. duly adopted by the Board of Alderman of the CITY OF RICH HILL, Missouri at their regular meeting on the 8TH day OF SEPTEMBER 2021.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby set my hand and affix the seal of the said City at my office in Rich Hill, Missouri.
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Casey Crews, City Clerk of City of Rich Hill, Missouri