Minutes 06-01-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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� • Recognizing that individual board members are not generally allowed to act on behalf of the board, but may only do so if the board specifically so authorizes, and that the board must take official action as a body. Section 3. (a) Board members should avoid impropriety in the exercise of their official duties. Their official actions should be above reproach. Although opinions may vary about what behavior is inappropriate, this board will consider impropriety in terms of whether a reasonable person who is aware of all of the relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the board member's action would conclude that the action was inappropriate. (b) Board members shall, at the first regular meeting after the annual organizational meeting of the Board immediately after assuming office, and annually thereafter, file with the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners a written statement describing any interest he or she or his or her spouse or domestic partner has in real property situated in whole or in part in Orange County and the general description or location of that property. (c) Board members shall, at the first regular meeting after the annual organizational meeting of the Board immediately after assuming office, and annually thereafter, file with the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners a written statement describing any legal, equitable, beneficial or contractual interest he or she or his or her spouse or domestic partner has in any business, firm or corporation, which is currently doing business with Orange County pursuant to contracts awarded by Orange County, or is attempting, or has attempted in the past calendar year, to secure the award of a bid from Orange County or the approval of any Board or Agency of Orange County. (d) If a board member believes that his or her actions, while legal and ethical, may be misunderstood, he or she should seek the advice of the board's attorney and should consider publicly disclosing the facts of the situation and the steps taken to resolve it, such as consulting with the attorney. (e) Sections 3(b) and 3(c) shall specifically apply to the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, Board of Adjustment of Orange County, Planning Board of Orange County and Board of Equalization and Review of Orange County and any other advisory boards or committees specifically designated by the Board of County Commissioners except that members of boards other than the Board of County Commissioners shall file the required disclosure within 30 days of their initial and subsequent appointments to said boards. Section 4. Board members should be faithful in the performance of the duties of their offices. They should act as especially responsible citizens whom others can trust and respect. They should set a good example for others in the community, keeping in mind that trust and respect must continually be earned. Board members should faithfully attend and prepare for meetings. They should carefully analyze all credible information that is properly submitted to them, mindful of the need not to engage in communications outside the meeting in quasi-judicial matters. They should demand full accountability from those over whom the board has authority. Board members should be willing to bear their fair share of the board's workload. To the extent appropriate, they should be willing to put the board's interests ahead of their own. Section 5. Elected members of local governing boards should conduct the affairs of their boards in an open and public manner. They should comply with all applicable laws governing open meetings and public records, recognizing that doing so is an important way to be worthy of the public's trust. They should remember when they meet that they are conducting the public's business. They should also remember that the records of their local government belong to the