CLEANING UP BURLINGTON COUNTY
GOVERNMENT : A COMPREHENSIVE ETHICS PROPOSAL
Nepotism Ban
No relative of a Freeholder, Row Officer
or Non-Classified Supervisory Employee, or a relative
of a Freeholder, Row Officer or Non-classified Supervisory
Employee’s spouse, children or parents is to be
permitted to work for the County of Burlington and County
Agencies as an employee. This policy shall also apply
to all County agencies, boards, commissions, or other
affiliated, independent entities that rely on the Burlington
County Board of Freeholders for appointments or funding,
including but not limited to: The Burlington County Bridge
Commission, the Burlington County Institute of Technology,
the Burlington County Community College, the Burlington
County Special Services School District, and the Burlington
County Library.
The term “relative” shall
be defined as a parent, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent,
grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, in-law
or step-relative, domestic partner or cohabitant, first
and second cousin or a person with whom a significant
personal relationship exists in the same household.
The term “Non-Classified Supervisory
Employee” shall be defined as a person appointed
to a position within the County government who has supervisory
authority in any respect.
The term “Row Officer” shall
refer to the Sheriff, the County Clerk , and the Surrogate
and this policy shall apply to persons within those offices.
Where a person already employed by the
County of Burlington or and listed agency becomes subject
to this nepotism ban because of changes in marital status
or through the election or appointment of a relative,
one of the affected individuals must resign their position
within sixty days.
Any employee found to be in violation
of this provision shall be involuntarily terminated.
Limit on Contracts
No company, partnership, corporation,
or individual shall hold more than three annual contracts
with the County of Burlington or the County Agencies during
the same one year. For the purposes of this provision,
a company includes any wholly-owned subsidiaries. Any
company, partnership, corporation, or individual currently
holding more than three contracts in violation of this
provision must, within 30 days, choose which contracts
to end without penalty in order to come into compliance
with this provision.
No department or office of the County
of Burlington or any County Agency shall grant no-bid
or non-competitive contracts for any purpose. This policy
shall also apply to all County agencies, boards, commissions,
or other affiliated, independent entities that rely on
the Burlington County Board of Freeholders for appointments
or funding, including but not limited to: The Burlington
County Bridge Commission, the Burlington County Institute
of Technology, the Burlington County Community College,
the Burlington County Special Services School District,
and the Burlington County Library.
Campaign Finance Disclosure
Prior to receiving any contract from
the County of Burlington or the County Agencies, the contract
seeker must identify on a form approved for such purpose
all campaign contributions within the previous two (2)
years made to federal, state, county or municipal candidates,
parties, political action committees, or issues representing
or relating, in whole or in part, the County of Burlington
or its municipalities, school boards, fire districts or
any other municipal body located within the County of
Burlington. This policy shall also apply to all County
agencies, boards, commissions, or other affiliated, independent
entities that rely on the Burlington County Board of Freeholders
for appointments or funding, including but not limited
to: The Burlington County Bridge Commission, the Burlington
County Institute of Technology, the Burlington County
Community College, the Burlington County Special Services
School District, and the Burlington County Library.
Dual Office Holding Ban
No elected official of the County of
Burlington or the County Agencies shall hold any other
elected office at any level of government. This policy
shall also apply to all County agencies, boards, commissions,
or other affiliated, independent entities that rely on
the Burlington County Board of Freeholders for appointments
or funding, including but not limited to: The Burlington
County Bridge Commission, the Burlington County Institute
of Technology, the Burlington County Community College,
the Burlington County Special Services School District,
and the Burlington County Library.
Any person found to be in violation
of this provision shall have 30 days to come into compliance
with this provision before being stripped of any and all
elected or appointed positions with the County of Burlington
and the listed County Agencies.
Municipal Dual Positions/Contract
Ban
No person holding elected or appointed
office in, or having employment with, a municipality,
a school board, a fire district or any other municipal
body located within the County of Burlington is to be
permitted to work for the County of Burlington or County
Agencies as an employee or to serve in any capacity wherein
they receive any form of compensation from the County
of Burlington or the County Agencies, such as receiving
a contract. This policy shall also apply to all County
agencies, boards, commissions, or other affiliated, independent
entities that rely on the Burlington County Board of Freeholders
for appointments or funding, including but not limited
to: The Burlington County Bridge Commission, the Burlington
County Institute of Technology, the Burlington County
Community College, the Burlington County Special Services
School District, and the Burlington County Library.
Any person found to be in violation
of this provision shall be stripped of any and all appointed
positions or involuntarily terminated from their employment
with the County of Burlington and the listed County Agencies.
Any person holding a contract with the County of Burlington
in violation of this provision shall be deemed ineligible
to hold that or any other contract with the County of
Burlington .
County Dual Positions/Contract
Ban
No person serving the County of Burlington
or County Agencies in any capacity wherein they receive
any form of compensation from the County of Burlington
or the County Agencies, such as receiving a contract or
receiving a stipend, is permitted to hold any other position
in or contract with the County of Burlington or County
Agencies in any capacity wherein they receive any additional
form of compensation from the County of Burlington or
the County Agencies. This policy shall also apply to all
County agencies, boards, commissions, or other affiliated,
independent entities that rely on the Burlington County
Board of Freeholders for appointments or funding, including
but not limited to: The Burlington County Bridge Commission,
the Burlington County Institute of Technology, the Burlington
County Community College, the Burlington County Special
Services School District, and the Burlington County Library.
Additionally, no person holding elected
or appointed office in the County of Burlington or any
County Agency shall to be permitted to work for the County
of Burlington or County Agencies as an employee or to
serve in any capacity in the County of Burlington or the
County Agencies, regardless of compensation. This policy
shall also apply to all County agencies, boards, commissions,
or other affiliated, independent entities that rely on
the Burlington County Board of Freeholders for appointments
or funding, including but not limited to: The Burlington
County Bridge Commission, the Burlington County Institute
of Technology, the Burlington County Community College,
the Burlington County Special Services School District,
and the Burlington County Library.
Any person found to be in violation
of this provision shall be stripped of any and all appointed
positions or involuntarily terminated from their employment
with the County of Burlington and the listed County Agencies.
Any person holding a contract with the County of Burlington
in violation of this provision shall be deemed ineligible
to hold that or any other contract with the County of
Burlington .
Employer Ban
No Employer of a Freeholder, Row Officer
or Non-Classified Supervisory Employee is to be permitted
to receive a contract in any form from the County of Burlington
, County Agencies, municipalities, school boards, fire
districts or any other municipal body located within the
County of Burlington . This policy shall also apply to
all County agencies, boards, commissions, or other affiliated,
independent entities that rely on the Burlington County
Board of Freeholders for appointments or funding, including
but not limited to: The Burlington County Bridge Commission,
the Burlington County Institute of Technology, the Burlington
County Community College, the Burlington County Special
Services School District, and the Burlington County Library.
Any company, partnership, corporation,
or individual holding a contract with the County of Burlington
in violation of this provision shall be deemed ineligible
to hold that or any other contract with the County of
Burlington .
Office Holder Employment
Ban
No federal, state, county or municipal
office holders representing, in whole or in part, the
County of Burlington or its municipalities, school boards,
fire districts or any other municipal body located within
the County of Burlington is permitted to work for, or
receive a contract in any form from, the County of Burlington
and County Agencies. This policy shall also apply to all
County agencies, boards, commissions, or other affiliated,
independent entities that rely on the Burlington County
Board of Freeholders for appointments or funding, including
but not limited to: The Burlington County Bridge Commission,
the Burlington County Institute of Technology, the Burlington
County Community College, the Burlington County Special
Services School District, and the Burlington County Library.
Any person found to be in violation
of this provision shall be involuntarily terminated from
their employment with the County of Burlington and the
listed County Agencies. Any person holding a contract
with the County of Burlington in violation of this provision
shall be deemed ineligible to hold that or any other contract
with the County of Burlington .
County Chair Ban
No chairman of any county political party
or any active political action committee operating in
the County of Burlington or its municipalities, school
boards, fire districts or any other municipal body located
within the County of Burlington is permitted to hold any
position in or contract with the County of Burlington
or County Agencies in any capacity. This policy shall
also apply to all County agencies, boards, commissions,
or other affiliated, independent entities that rely on
the Burlington County Board of Freeholders for appointments
or funding, including but not limited to: The Burlington
County Bridge Commission, the Burlington County Institute
of Technology, the Burlington County Community College,
the Burlington County Special Services School District,
and the Burlington County Library. This policy shall also
extend to any companies or other businesses owned by or
employing such chairman during the duration of their chairmanship.
Any person found to be in violation
of this provision shall be involuntarily terminated from
their employment with the County of Burlington and the
listed County Agencies. Any person holding a contract
with the County of Burlington in violation of this provision
shall be deemed ineligible to hold that or any other contract
with the County of Burlington .
Revolving Door Ban
No elected or appointed official or
supervisory employee of the County of Burlington or any
County Agency shall be employed by the County of Burlington
or any County Agency or by any company, partnership or
other business holding an active contract with the County
of Burlington or any County Agency for a period of two
years after leaving office or voluntary or involuntary
termination of their employment. This policy shall also
apply to all County agencies, boards, commissions, or
other affiliated, independent entities that rely on the
Burlington County Board of Freeholders for appointments
or funding, including but not limited to: The Burlington
County Bridge Commission, the Burlington County Institute
of Technology, the Burlington County Community College,
the Burlington County Special Services School District,
and the Burlington County Library.
Gifts Ban
No elected or appointed official or
supervisory employee of the County of Burlington or any
County Agency, nor the spouse of any such person shall
accept any gift, loan or favor of any value that could
be reasonably expected to influence the public business
of the county government in any way. No elected or appointed
official of the County of Burlington or any County Agency
shall accept any gift, loan or favor valued at more than
$200 from any person/business who receives compensation
of any amount or kind from the County of Burlington, who
is under contract or owns a company or business under
contract with the County of Burlington or any County Agency,
who has official business with or before the County of
Burlington or any County Agency, or who is directly related
to any of the above persons. If any elected or appointed
officials or supervisory employee of the County of Burlington
or the County Agencies spouse of such a person receives
any allowable gift valued at $50 or more from any person
not related to him or her, they shall be required to disclose
the name, address, profession, and employer of the gift
giver, as well as a description and approximate of the
gift and the date the gift was given. All such disclosures
shall be submitted to the Citizens’ Ethics Enforcement
Board.
Violations of the gift ban will result in a fine equal
to twice the fair market value of the gift.
Campaign Contributions Ban
No employee of the County of Burlington
or the County Agencies or the spouse or child or any employee
shall be permitted to make any monetary contribution of
more than $100 to any candidate for Burlington County
office, any Burlington County political party, or any
active political action committee that donates or has
donated money or in-kind contributions to any candidate
or political party in Burlington County. This policy shall
also apply to employees of all County agencies, boards,
commissions, or other affiliated, independent entities
that rely on the Burlington County Board of Freeholders
for appointments or funding, including but not limited
to: The Burlington County Bridge Commission, the Burlington
County Institute of Technology, the Burlington County
Community College, the Burlington County Special Services
School District, and the Burlington County Library.
Any employee found to be in violation of this provision
will be fined three times the amount of the contribution
and will be subject to disciplinary action. Any campaign
found to have accepted a contribution banned under this
section shall be required to return the contribution and
will be fined three times the amount of the contribution
or $1000, whichever is higher.
Citizens’ Ethics Enforcement
Board
A seven-member Citizens’ Ethics
Enforcement Board shall be created and funded for the
purpose of implementing and enforcing the ethics code
for the County of Burlington . The Citizens’ Ethics
Enforcement Board shall be made up of seven Burlington
County residents – three Democrats and three Republicans,
appointed by the county chair of each party and one judicial
appointment made by the Assignment Judge of the Superior
Court of Burlington County – who do not hold elected
or non-judicial appointed office in, or having employment
with, a municipality, a school board, a fire district
or any other municipal body located within the County
of Burlington, or with the County of Burlington or the
County Agencies, or with the State of New Jersey. Members
shall serve two year terms and shall be limited to no
more than two consecutive terms. Members of the Citizens’
Ethics Enforcement Board shall not be paid.
The Citizens’ Ethics Enforcement
Board shall hold one public meeting per month to review
any pending complaints. This Board will have the power
to call witnesses, take sworn testimony, and conduct investigations
arising from complaints.
Any citizen of Burlington County shall
have standing to submit a confidential sworn statement
alleging a violation of any provision of the ethics code
by any elected or appointed official, employee, or contractor
of the County of Burlington or any County Agency. Allegations
must be submitted in writing and include a sworn statement
setting forth the allegation, any and all evidence of
the violation, and contact information for the person
making the allegation.
