§ 27-7. Gifts, gratuities and favors.

Officials and employees, because of their positions in Town, may be offered gifts, loans or privileges in the expectation of influencing their actions and/or decisions in favor of the giver. Such offerings are in effect bribes, and the acceptance of such is unethical.

A. 

Officials and employees shall not accept gifts, loans or privileges offered them because of their positions in Town in the expectation of influencing their actions or decisions.

B. 

It is unethical for an official or employee to give preferential treatment in response to gifts, loans or privileges offered to family or business associates.

C. 

Subsections A and B do not preclude the acceptance of gifts at the time of retirement or at public occasions held to honor an official or employee. The public honoring of an individual makes gifts appropriate and acceptable.

D. 

If it is impossible or inappropriate to refuse a gift or offering, then it shall be turned over to an appropriate public or charitable institution.

E. 

The courtesies that are associated with the normal daily business routine are not disallowed.