06-24-13 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council

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(A) The action is likely to have an effect on that interest, either positive or negative, that is distinguishable from its effect on members of the public in general or a substantial segment of the public. (B) The effect of the action on that interest is direct, and not secondary or indirect. However, the action need not be the only producing cause of the effect in order for the effect to be direct. C) The effect on the interest must be more than insignificant or de minimis in nature or value. (2) In determining whether a person, entity or property is or was affected by an official's or employee's participation in proceedings, vote or decision, it will not be necessary to prove the actual existence or occurrence of an economic effect or consequence if the effect or consequence would be reasonably expected to exist or occur. (c) Recusal and disclosure. A City official or employee whose conduct would otherwise violate subsection (a), or a state conflict of interest law if he or she participated in proceedings or took an action, must abstain from participation in the action in accordance with the following: (1) Immediately refrain from further participation in the matter, including discussions with any persons likely to consider the matter, from the time he or she discovers or reasonably should have discovered the matter triggering the recusal; (2) Promptly file necessary documentation disclosing the nature and extent of the interest triggering the recusal with the City Secretary, if the person is an official, or with the person's supervisor, if the person is an employee; (3) Promptly notify the person's supervisor of the nature and extent of the interest triggering the recusal, if the person is a City employee, so that the supervisor can reassign responsibility for handling the matter to another person; and (4) Promptly disclose the interest triggering the recusal, if the person is a member of the City Council, a City board or commission, to other members of the City Council, board or commission, and leave the room in which the City Council, board or commission is meeting during the board or commission's discussion of, or voting on, the matter. Section 4. Standards of conduct. (a) Standards for immediate family members. It is a violation of this policy for an immediate family member to intentionally or knowingly: (1) Solicit, accept or agree to accept from another person any benefit that the member's relative, who is a City officer or employee, is prohibited from soliciting, accepting or agreeing to accept under state law; (2) Misuse any official information obtained from the member's relative, who is a City officer or employee, to which the relative has access by virtue of the relative's office or employment and that has not been made public, in a manner prohibited as to the relative under state law; or (3) Misuse, as defined in V.T.C.A., Penal Code §39.01, any City property, services, personnel or any other thing of value belonging to the City that has come into the member's custody or possession by virtue of the office or employment of the member's relative who is a City officer or employee. (b) Representation and appearance at meetings. No City officer or employee shall knowingly: (1) Appear before the body of which the officer or employee is a member, or otherwise participate in any proceedings, as a representative for any private person, including the officer or