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� <br /> public and not to them or their employees. They should make clear that a climate of openness <br /> is to be maintained at all times in their governmental units. <br /> In order to ensure strict compliance with the laws governing openness, governing board <br /> members should strive to be open. They should prohibit unjustified delay in fulfilling public <br /> records requests. They should take deliberate steps to ensure that any closed sessions held <br /> by the board are lawfully conducted, and that such sessions do not stray from the purposes for <br /> which they are called. <br /> Section 6. <br /> If, by a majority vote of the board, the board has reasonable cause to believe that one or <br /> more of its members has violated a provision of this Code of Ethics, it may at a regular meeting <br /> of the Board of County Commissioners direct the County Attorney to open an investigation into <br /> the matter. All information compiled, including the grounds for the finding of reasonable cause, <br /> shall be shared with the member when it is received. All information pertaining to the case shall <br /> be open to public inspection and copying pursuant to the North Carolina public records <br /> statutes. If, upon investigation of a violation of this Code of Ethics, the board has reasonable <br /> cause to believe that a violation of a criminal law may have occurred, it shall refer the matter to <br /> the local district attorney. Should the board determine that it wishes to proceed further with <br /> censure proceedings, it shall, by a majority vote, call for a hearing to be held at a regular <br /> meeting or at a special meeting convened for that purpose and shall adhere to the procedures <br /> set out in Attachment "B" "Censure Procedure". This section shall apply only to the Board of <br /> County Commissioners of Orange County. <br /> This Code of Ethics adopted this the 1St day of June, 2010. <br /> ATTACHMENT "A" <br /> APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS <br /> 1. Avoid deriving a direct benefit from contracts in which you are involved in making or <br /> administering on behalf of the public agency. (G.S. 14-234((a)(1); criminal penalty; note <br /> defined terms in the statute: direct benefit, involved in making or administering a <br /> contract.) <br /> 2. Avoid attempting to influence others who are involved in making or administering a <br /> contract on behalf of the public agency, even if you aren't involved, if you will derive a <br /> direct benefit from the contract. (G.S. 14-234 (a)(2); criminal penalty; note defined <br /> terms in the statute: direct benefit, involved in making or administering a contract.) <br /> 3. Avoid soliciting or receiving any gift or reward in exchange for recommending, <br /> influencing, or attempting to influence the award of a contract by the public agency you <br /> serve. (G.S. 14-234 (a)(3); criminal penalty.) <br /> 4. Consider the ethical and practical consequences of deriving a direct benefit from a <br /> contract that is authorized under any exception to the statute, and weigh these <br /> considerations against the potential advantage to the public agency and to yourself. <br /> Follow reporting requirements to ensure transparency. (G.S. 14-234 (b); (d1).) <br /> 5. Avoid participating in deliberations about or voting on a contract in which you have a <br /> direct benefit, when the contract is undertaken as allowed under any exception to the <br /> statute. (G.S. 14-234 (b1); criminal penalty.) <br /> 6. Avoid using your knowledge of contemplated action by you or your unit, or information <br /> known to you in your official capacity and not made public, to acquire a financial <br />