3.0 ERMUSR 03-10-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST Conflict of interest questions arise periodically and can become complex. Generally, a legal conflict of interest occurs when you, as a member of a Commission, are slated to vote on a matter involving you and/or a business owned by you or a member of your family by blood or marriage. You could have a conflict of interest when the outcome could be economically advantageous to you, or to a member of your family, or to a business owned in whole or in part by you or a member of your family. In such cases, you have a responsibility to disclose this information to the Commission you serve and abstain from any discussion and/or vote on this matter. In addition to the above-mentioned situations, all Commission members must be aware of situations in which there is an appearance of conflict of interest. In some cases – such as an individual’s alliance to an organization or group – a matter may be pending before the Commission which will not benefit you or a family member, but may leave doubt as to that member’s ability to make an objective determination. Although there may not be any legal preemption from voting under such circumstances, discretion should prevail. The following points relating to conflict of interest are excerpts taken from ERMU Commission Policy - G.2e Commission Member Conduct: •Commission members are bound by, and will comply with, all State Statutes regarding conflicts of interest and Elk River City Code Sections 2-131 to 2-135. •In addition, Commission members will avoid any situation in which they stand to benefit individually through financial gain or influence. If such situations cannot be avoided, Commission members will disclose any known or potential conflicts, excuse themselves from any meeting during those times when the matter causing the conflict or potential conflict is under consideration, and abstain from voting in that matter. •Depending on the circumstances, a Commission member may disclose any known or potential conflict to the Commission Chair, the General Manager, or ERMU's Legal Counsel. Legal Counsel will be available to advise the Commission, individually or collectively, about potential conflicts. Generally, an individual Commission member will first approach the Commission Chair or the General Manager about a potential conflict. Legal Counsel is also available to advise the individual Commissioners in confidence about potential conflicts. 211