(B)
General standards
of ethical conduct.
(1)
The board of trustees and all college employees, in
order to protect the public, will at all times, abide
by Revised Code,
by
Chapter 102. of the Revised Code, public officers - ethics, and Chapter 2921.
of the Revised Code, offenses against justice and public administration, as
interpreted by the Ohio ethics commission and Ohio courts. Further, the board
and all college employees must conduct themselves, at all times, in a manner
not inconsistent with these Revised Code statutes along with avoiding any
favoritism, bias and the appearance of impropriety.
(2)
A non - exclusive list of restraints upon the conduct
of the board and all college employees is as follows. No member of the board or
any college employee shall:
(a)
Solicit or accept anything of value from anyone doing
business with the college;
(b)
Solicit or accept
employment from any individual/entity doing business with the college unless
the board member or employee completely withdraws from any/all college activity
directly or indirectly related to the individual/entity offering employment and
the college approves of the withdrawal;
(c)
Use his or her
public position to obtain benefits for himself or herself, a family member, or
anyone with whom the board member or employee has a business or employment
relationship;
(d)
Be paid or accept any form of compensation, in addition
to the board member or employee's wages paid by the college, for personal
services rendered on a matter before the college (section
102.04 of the Revised
Code);
(e)
Be paid or accept any form of personal compensation,
other than the board member or employee's wages paid by the college for goods
sold or services provided to the college;
(f)
Excepting those
individuals exempted under section
102.04 of the Revised Code
(employees other than an officer who is required to file a financial
disclosure), receive or agree to receive directly or indirectly compensation
other than from the college for any service rendered or to be
rendered;
(g)
Personally hold or benefit from a contract with,
authorized by, or approved by, the college;
(h)
Vote, authorize,
recommend, or in any manner use his or her position to secure approval of a the
college contract (including employment or personal services) in which the board
member employee, a family member thereof, or anyone with whom the member,
official or employee has a business and/or employment relationship, has an
interest;
(i)
Solicit or accept honoraria as defined in division (H)
of section 102.01 of the Revised Code, and
division (H) of section
102.03 of the Revised
Code;
(j)
During public service, and for one year after leaving
public service, represent any person, in any fashion, before any public agency,
with respect to a matter in which the board member employee participated in or
with, while serving with the college;
(k)
Use or disclose
confidential information protected by law, unless statutorily
authorized;
(l)
Use, or authorize the use of, his or her title, the
name of the college or the logo of the college in a manner that suggests
impropriety, favoritism or bias by the college, the board member or
employee.
(3)
For purposes of this policy:
(a)
"Anything of
value" includes anything of monetary value, including, but not limited to,
money, gifts, food or beverages, social event tickets and expenses, travel
expenses, golf outings, consulting fees, compensation, or employment. "Value"
means worth greater than de minimis or nominal.
(b)
Anyone doing
business with the college includes, but is not limited to, any person,
corporation, or other party that is doing, or seeking to do business with,
regulated by, or has an interest before the college.
(4)
Financial
disclosure.
Every board member, official or
employee required to file a financial disclosure statement must file a complete
and accurate statement with the ethics commission by April fifteenth of each
year. Any member or employee appointed, or employed to a filing position after
February fifteenth and required to file a financial disclosure statement must
file a statement within ninety days of appointment or employment.
(6)
Penalties.
Failure of any board member or employee
to abide by the ethics policy, or to comply with the ethics law and related
statutes, will result in discipline, which may include dismissal, as well as
any potential civil or criminal sanctions under the law.
(7)
Fraud
reporting.
The Ohio auditor of state's office
maintains a system for the reporting of fraud, including misuse of public money
by any official or office. The system allows all Ohio citizens, including
public employees, the opportunity to make anonymous complaints through a toll
free number, the auditor of state's website, or through the United States
mail.
Auditor of state's fraud contact
information:
Telephone: 1-866-372-8364.
US mail: Ohio auditor of state's
office, special investigations unit, 88 east Broad st, P.O. box 1140, Columbus,
Ohio 43215.
Web:www.ohioauditor.gov
.
