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CABARRUS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONER REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 2010 6:30 P.M. AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent Agenda SUBJECT: BOC - Code of Ethics - Tabled from October Work Session BRIEF SUMMARY: Session Law 2009 -403 enacts a new statute, G.S. 1 E requires all North Carolina cities, counties, local boards unified governments, sanitary districts, and consolidated c adopt a resolution or policy containing a code of ethics to gL the governing board members in the performance of their of members of that governing board. It must be adopted January 1, 2011. The resolution or policy is required to ad five key responsibilities of board members, responsibilities that reflect concern for ethical principles as well as for the effects of the board members' decisions on others. The five areas to be addressed are as follows: The need to obey all applicable laws regarding official actions taken as a board member; The need to uphold the integrity and independence of the board member's office; The need to avoid impropriety in the exercise of the board member's official duties; The need to faithfully perform the duties of the office; and, The need to conduct the affairs of the governing board in an open and public manner, including complying with all applicable laws governing open meetings and public records. The statute leaves local boards a good deal of leeway in deciding what their codes will contain, as long as the code addresses the five topics. It may be very detailed, or it may be very general. It may state aspirations towards which the board is striving, or it may purport to prohibit certain board actions. The board may look to model local government codes of ethics for guidance in developing the resolution or policy. Codes adopted by other local government units are provided for reference. Page 47 F -1