Plainfield Township Park District Ethics Code

In a recent comment thread, and at park board meetings, residents have asked what the Plainfield Township Park District’s ethics code states.  Per our Board Manual, Section 4.7, Code of Conduct, states: Board members of the Plainfield Park District are expected to be of high moral and ethical character and work together as a team to serve the community.  Each Board member is expected to act in the best interests of the residents of the District and be free of outside influence and self-interests. Accordingly, Board members will educate themselves about and comply with all other federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable to the conduct of Park District elected officials.  These include but are not limited to: the Public Officials Prohibited Activities Act, the Government Ethics Act, the Gift Ban Act, Official Misconduct, Bid Rigging Act the Illinois Human Rights Act, and filing a Statement of Economic Interest with Will and Kendall Counties prior to May 1st of each year and Ordinance Number 2004-01 (Plainfield Township Park District Ethics Ordinance) Adopted May 12, 2004. 

Ordinance Number 2004-01, the Plainfield Township Park District Ethics Ordinance states: WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly has enacted the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (Public Act 93-615, effective November 19, 2003, as amended by Public Act 93-617, effective December 9, 2003), which is a comprehensive revision of State statutes regulating ethical conduct, political activities and the solicitation and acceptance of gifts by State officials and employees; and WHEREAS, the Act requires all units of local government and school districts, within six months after the effective date of Public Act 93-615, to adopt ordinances or resolutions regulating the political activities of, and the solicitation and acceptance of gifts by, the officers and employees of such units “in a manner no less restrictive” than the provisions of the Act; and WHEREAS, it is the clear intention of the Act to require units of local government and school districts to implement regulations that are at least as restrictive as those contained in the Act, and to impose penalties for violations of those regulations as that are equivalent to those imposed by the Act, notwithstanding that such penalties may exceed the general authority granted to units of local government to penalize ordinance violations; and WHEREAS, it is the clear intention of the Act to provide units of local government with all authority necessary to implement its requirements on the local level regardless of any general limitations on the power to define and punish ordinance violations that might otherwise be applicable; and WHEREAS, because the Act provides for the imposition of significant penalties for violations of said local regulations, it is necessary to adopt the required regulations by Ordinance rather than by Resolution. 

“Contribution” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 9-1.4 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/9-1.4).  “Employee” means a person employed by the Plainfield Township Park District, whether on a full-time or part-time basis or pursuant to a contract, whose duties are subject to the direction and control of an employer with regard to the material details of how the work is to be performed, but does not include in independent contractor.  “Employer” means the Plainfield Township Park District.  “Gift” means any gratuity, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other tangible or intangible item having monetary values including, but not limited to, cash, food and drink, and honoraria for speaking engagements related to or attributable to government employment or the official position of an officer or employee.  “Leave of absence” means any period during which an employee does not receive (i) compensation for employment, (ii) service credit towards pension benefits, and (iii) health insurance benefits paid for by the employer.  “Officer” means a person who holds, by election or appointment, an office created by statute or ordinance, regardless of whether the officer is compensated for service in his or her official capacity.  “Political activity” means any activity in support of or in connection with any campaign for elective office or any political organization, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action, (ii) relating to collective bargaining, or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person’s official duties.  “Political organization” means a party, committee, association, fund or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that is required to file a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk under Section 9-3 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/9-3), but only with regard to those activities that require filing with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk.  “Prohibited political activity” means: (1) preparing for, organizing, or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration, or other political event.  (2) Soliciting contributions, including but not limited to the purchase of, selling, distributing, or receiving payment for tickets for any political fundraiser, political meeting, or other political event.  (3) Soliciting, planning the solicitation of, or preparing any document or report regarding anything of value intended as a campaign contribution.  (4) Planning, conducting, or participating in a public opinion poll in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.  (5) Surveying or gathering information from potential or actual voters in an election to determine probable vote outcome in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.  (6) Assisting at the polls on Election Day on behalf of any political organization or candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.  (7) Soliciting votes on behalf of a candidate for elective office or a political organization or for or against any referendum question or helping in an effort to get voters to the polls.  (8) Initiating for circulation, preparing, circulating, reviewing, or filing any petition on behalf of a candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.  (9) Making contributions on behalf of any candidate for elective office in that capacity or in connection with a campaign for elective office. (10) Preparing or reviewing responses to candidate questionnaires.  (11) Distributing, preparing for distribution, or mailing campaign literature, campaign signs, or other campaign material on behalf of any candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.  (12) Campaigning for any elective office or for or against any referendum question.  (13) Managing or working on a campaign for elective office or for or against any referendum question.  (14) Serving as a delegate, alternate, or proxy to a political party convention.  (15) Participating in any recount or challenge to the outcome of any election.  “Prohibited source” means any person or entity who: (1) is seeking official action (i) by an officer or (ii) by an employee, or by the officer or another employee directing that employee; (2) does business or seeks to do business (i) with the officer or (ii) with an employee or with the officer or another employee directing that employee; (3) conducts activities regulated (i) by the officer or (ii) by an employee, or by the officer or another employee directing that employee; or (4) has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance of nonperformance of the official duties of the officer or employee.

Article 2, PROHIBITED POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, Section 2-1.  Prohibited political activities. (a) No officer or employee shall intentionally perform any prohibited political activity during any compensated time, as defined herein.  No officer or employee shall intentionally use any property or resources of the Plainfield Township Park District in connection with any prohibited political activity.  (b) At no time shall any officer of employee intentionally require any other officer or employee to perform any prohibited political activity (i) as part of that officer of employee’s duties, (ii) as a condition of employment, or (iii) during any compensated time off (such as holidays, vacation, or personal time off).  (c) No officer or employee shall be required at any time to participate in any prohibited political activity in consideration for that officer or employee being awarded additional compensation or any benefit, whether in the form of a salary adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off, continued employment or otherwise, nor shall any officer or employee be awarded additional compensation or any benefit in consideration for his or her participation in any prohibited political activity.  (d) Nothing in this Section prohibits activities that are permissible for an officer or an employee to engage in as part of his or her official duties, or activities that are undertaken by an officer or employee on a voluntary basis which are not prohibited by this Ordinance.  (e) No person either (i) in position that is subject to recognized merit principals of public employment or (ii) in a position the salary for which is paid in whole or in part by federal funds and that is subject to the Federal Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration applicable to grant-in-aid programs, shall be deprived of employment or tenure solely because he or she is a member or an officer of a political committee, of a political party, or of a political organization or club.

ARTICLE 3, GIFT BAN.  Section 3-1. Gift ban.  Except as permitted by this Article, no officer or employee, and no spouse of or immediate family member living with any officer or employee (collectively referred to herein as “recipients”), shall intentionally solicit or accept any gift from any prohibited source, as defined herein, or which is otherwise  prohibited by law or ordinance.  No prohibited source shall intentionally offer or make a gift that violates this Section.  Section 3-2.  Exceptions.  Section 3-1 is not applicable to the following: (1) Opportunities, benefits, and services that are available on the same conditions as for the general public.  (2) Anything for which the officer or employee, or his or her spouse or immediate family member, pays the fair market value.  (3) Any (i) contribution that is lawfully made under the Election Code or (ii) activities associated with a fundraising event in support of a political organization or candidate.  (4) Educational materials and missions.  (5) Travel expenses for a meeting to discuss business.  (6) A gift from a relative, meaning those people related to the individual as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, great aunt, great uncle, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, farther-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, and including the father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother of the individual’s spouse and the individual’s fiancé or fiancée.  (7) Anything provided by an individual on the basis of a personal friendship unless the recipient has reason to believe that, under the circumstances, the gift was provided because of the official position or employment of the recipient of his or her spouse or immediate family member and not because of the personal friendship.  In determining whether a gift is provided on the basis of personal friendship, the recipient shall consider the circumstances under which the gift was offered, such as (i) the history of the relationship between the individual giving the gift and the recipient of the gift, including any previous exchange of gifts between those individuals; and (ii) whether to the actual knowledge of the recipient the individual who gave the gift personally paid for the gift or sought a tax deduction or business reimbursement for the gift; and (iii) whether to the actual knowledge of the recipient the individual who gave the gift also at the same time gave the same or similar gifts to other officers or employees, or their spouses or immediate family members.  (8) Food or refreshments not exceeded $75 per person in value on a single calendar day; provided that food or refreshments are (i) consumed on the premises from which they were purchased prepared or (ii) catered.  For the purposes of this Section, “catered,” means food or refreshments that are purchased ready to consume which are delivered by any means.  (9) Food, refreshments, lodging, transportation, and other benefits resulting from outside businesses or employment activities (or outside activities that are not connected to the official duties of an officer or employee), if the benefits have not been offered or enhanced because of the official position of employment of the officer or employee, and are customarily provided to others in similar circumstances.  (10) Intra-governmental and inter-governmental gifts.  For the purpose of this Act, “intra-governmental gift” means any gift given to an officer or employee from another officer or employee, and “inter-governmental gift” means any gift given to an officer or employee by an officer or employee of another governmental entity.  (11) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at death.  (12) Any item or items from any one prohibited source during any calendar year having a cumulative total value of less than $100.  Each of the exceptions listed in this Section is mutually exclusive and independent of each other.  Section 3-3.  Disposition of gifts.  An officer or employee, his or her spouse or an immediate family member living with the officer or employee does not violate this Ordinance if the recipient or an amount equal to its value to an appropriate charity that is exempt from income taxation under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now or hereafter amended, renumbered, or succeeded.

ARTICLE 4 PENALTIES.  Section 4-1.  Penalties.  (a) A person who intentionally violates any provision of Article 2 of this Ordinance may be punished by a term of incarceration in a penal institution other than a penitentiary for a period of not more than 364 days, and may be fined in an amount not to exceed $2,500.  (b)  A person who intentionally violates any provision of Article 3 of this Ordinance is subject to a fine in an amount of not less than $1,001 and not more than $5,000.  (c) Any person who intentionally makes a false report alleging a violation of any provision of this Ordinance to the local enforcement authorities, the State’s Attorney or any other law enforcement official may be punished by a term of incarceration in a penal institution other than a penitentiary for a period of not more than 364 days, and may be fined in an amount not to exceed $2,500.  (d) A violation of Article 2 of this Ordinance shall be prosecuted as a criminal offense by the Plainfield Township Park District by filing in the circuit court as information, or sworn complaint, charging such offense.  The prosecution shall be under and conform to the rules of criminal procedure.  Conviction shall require the establishment of the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.  (e) A violation of Article 3 of this Ordinance may be prosecuted as a quasi-criminal offense by an attorney for the Plainfield Township Park District, or if an Ethics Commission has been created, by the Commission through the designated administrative procedure.  (f) In addition to any other penalty that may be applicable, whether criminal or civil, an officer or employee who intentionally violates any provision of Article 2 or Article 3 of this Ordinance is subject to discipline or discharge.

Section 2: This Ordinance shall be in effect upon its passage, approval and publication (if required) as provided by law.  Passed this 12th day of May, 2004.  5 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Absent, 0 Abstain.

Respectfully,

Mary Kay Ludemann, Commissioner

Plainfield Township Park District