03-10-2025 CC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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i. Use the City logos for personal or private benefit or modify the logos in any way. j. Hold incompatible offices. No elected person can be an employee of the City. k. Use the person's elected or appointed position to impede the efficiency of the body's decision -making. 1. Encourage or participate in a manner that erodes order and decorum at a meeting. in. Use cell phones or other telecommunication devises to communicate with others during public meetings. n. Represent a personal position as position of the city. Members shall represent positions approved by the City Council to the best of their ability when working with, other government entities or the media. If an individual Council Member's opinion differs from the City position, or a matter agreed upon by the full Council, Members shall explicitly state they do not represent their City Council or the City of Orono, nor will they allow the inference that they do. Except as prohibited by the provisions of Minn. Stat. § 471.87, there is no violation of subdivision 1 b. of this section for a matter that comes before the council, board, or commission if the member of the council, board, or commission publicly discloses the circumstances that would violate these standards and refrains from participating in the discussion and vote on the matter. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a contract with a member of the City Council under the circumstances described under Minn. Stat. § 471.88, if proper statutory procedures are followed. 3. Complaint, hearing. Any council, commission or board member may file a written complaint with the city administrator alleging a violation of the standards of conduct in section. The complaint must contain supporting facts for the allegation. The City Council may hold a hearing after receiving the written complaint or upon the council's own volition. A hearing must be held only if the City Council determines: (1) upon advice of the city attorney, designee, or other attorney appointed by the council, that the factual allegations state a sufficient claim of a violation of these standards or rise to the level of a legally recognized conflict of interest, and (2) that the complaint has been lodged in good faith and not for impermissible purposes such as delay. The City Council's determination must be made within 30 days of the filing of the allegation with the city administrator. If the council determines that there is an adequate justification for holding a hearing, the hearing must be held within 30 days of the City Council's determination. At the hearing, the person accused must have the opportunity to be heard. If, after the hearing, the council finds that a violation of a standard has occurred or does exist, the council may censure the person, refer the matter for criminal prosecution, request an official not to participate in a decision, or remove an appointed member of an advisory board or commission from office. 29