Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 55
May 18, 2001
Issued By: City Attorney’s Office
Whether a City employee may serve on the
An
employee of a City Department has asked whether he may serve on the Alameda Museum
Board. The following facts are
presented:
The
Office of Cultural Affairs “provides
leadership and resources for arts and cultural development” for the City of
The
issue is whether the employee may serve on the board of the Alameda Museum
Board given his position with the City.
The Ethics Code defines a “city employee” as “any person listed on the City of
Improper
Economic Benefit. As a general rule, a City employee may not
take any official action that he knows is likely to have an effect on, among
others, his economic interest or the economic interest of a nonprofit entity on
which the official serves in a policy making position. Should such occur, the employee is required
to recuse himself immediately, refraining from any further participation in the
matter, and disclose in writing to the City Clerk the economic
benefit. Therefore, if an issue
involving the Board requires action by the City employee in his position as a
program manager, he must recuse himself from any and all discussions, including
voting. Moreover, he must disclose the situation to the City Clerk’s Office and
his supervisor.
Unfair
Advancement of Private Interests. Part B, Section 2 of the Code[1]
prohibits all City employees from using their position “to unfairly advance or impede private interests, or to grant or
secure, or attempt to grant or secure, for any person (including himself [ ])
any form of special consideration, treatment, exemption, or advantage beyond
that which is lawfully available to other persons.” Under this section, the employee must not
use his position as the program manager to advance the interests of the Alameda
Museum Board or give the impression of such. Therefore, it is advised that, if
a matter of the Board comes before the program manager in his official position
with the City, the program manager recuse and disclose the matter, thereby
eliminating any perception of impropriety.
Confidential
Information. All City employees are prohibited from using
their position to obtain confidential information for purposes other than the
performance of their duties and/or from intentionally or knowingly disclosing
such information gained as a result of their position. Pursuant to that end, the employee must
refrain from disclosing information received in his position to aid the Board
in obtaining favorable treatment from the City, including funding.
Representation
of Private Interests. Part B,
Section 5[2] of the
Code prohibits City employees from representing private interests before their
City body and/or for compensation. Therefore, the individual may neither
represent the Board before his department or before any member of City Council
or City staff nor assert his position in approval of any project between the
City and the Board.
SUMMARY
A
City employee must abide by the standards as set forth in the Ethics Code,
including recusal and disclosure, in order to serve on the Alameda Museum Board.
Provided the employee abides by the City’s Ethics rules, there is no
prohibition on serving on the board.
FRANK
J. GARZA
City
Attorney