Article I. In General

Secs. 12.5-1--12.5-50. Reserved
 

Article II. Code of Ethics

 Sec. 12.5-51. Definitions.

        For purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

        (a) County means Shelby County, including all boards, committees, commissions, authorities, corporations or other instrumentalities appointed or created by the county or an official of the county, and specifically including the county election commission. 

        (b) De minimis means lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard.

        (c) Official, employee, and appointee means and includes any official, whether an elected or appointed officer or employee of the county, or any appointee to any county or Memphis city/county board, commission, agency, or authority, and the employees of said boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities. This definition includes an official, employee, or appointee, whether compensated or not, and/or whether full-time or part-time. 

        (d) Personal interest means, for the purpose of disclosure of personal interests in accordance with this code of ethics, any non-de minimis direct financial interest of the official, employee, or appointee, or of the official's, employee's, or appointee's spouse or child living in the same household, or such persons in negotiations with a prohibited source, in the matter to be voted upon, regulated, supervised, or otherwise acted upon in an official capacity. 

        (e) Prohibited source means any person, business, entity or other organization that is seeking official action, decisions or performance or nonperformance of an official, employee, or appointee of the county. Nothing in this code of ethics prohibits an official, employee, or appointee from conducting such county business with, or voting or approving a matter involving, a lending institution whose lending activity is regulated by the state or federal government, solely because that official, employee, or appointee conducts private business with the institution upon the same terms as those granted to the public generally and not otherwise in violation of this chapter. 

(Ord. No. 330, Att. § 1, 6-25-07; Ord. No. 371, 5-11-09)

Sec. 12.5-52. Disclosure of Personal Interest in Voting Matters.

        Any official, employee, or appointee with the responsibility to vote or advise on any matter shall disclose during the meeting at which a vote on the measure takes place, before the vote and to be included in the minutes, any personal interest of the official, employee or appointee in the matter to be voted upon. In addition, the official, employee or appointee may recuse himself or herself from discussion or voting on the measure.

(Ord. No. 330, Att. § 2, 6-25-07; Ord. No. 371, 5-11-09)