Laserfiche WebLink
RECOMMENDED ETI~ICS POLICY <br />DEVELOPED BY N.C. ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />PREAMBLE <br /> <br />The stability and proper operation of democratic representative government depends upon the <br />continuing consent of the governed, upon the public confidence in the integrity of the government <br />and upon responsible exercise of the trust conferred by the people. Government decisions and policy <br />must be made and implemented through proper channels and precesses of the governmental structure. <br />The purpose of this code is to establish guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for county <br />commissioners. It should not be considered a substitute for the law or a county commissioners best <br />judgement. <br /> <br />County commissioners must be able to act in a manner to maintain their integrity and independence, <br />yet must be responsive to the interests and needs of those they represent. County commissioners serve <br />in an important advocacy capacity in meeting the needs of their citizens and should recognize the <br />legitimacy of this role as well as the intrinsic importance of this function to the proper functioning of <br />representative government. At the same time, county commissioners must, at times, act in an <br />adjudicatory or administrative capacity and must, when doing so, act in a fair and impartial manner. <br />County commissioners must know how to distinguish these roles and when each role is appropriate <br />and they must act accordingly. County commissioners must be aware &their obligation to conform <br />their behavior to standards of ethical conduct that warrant the trust of their constituents. Each county <br />commissioner must find within his or her own conscience the touchstone on which to determine <br />appropriate conduct. <br /> <br /> CANON ONE <br />A County Commissioner Shall Obey the Law <br /> <br />County commissioners shall support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of <br />North Carolina and the laws enacted by the Congress of the United States and the General <br />Assembly pursuant thereto. <br /> <br /> CANON TWO <br />A County Commissioner Shall Uphold the Integrity and <br />Independence of His Office <br /> <br />County commissioners shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, <br />honest and fortitude in all their public activities in order to inspire public confidence and trust in <br />county govemment. County commissioners shall participate in establishing, maintaining, and <br />enforcing, and shall themselves observe, high standards of conduct so that the integrity and <br />independence of their office may be preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed <br />and applied to further these objectives. <br /> <br /> <br />