Friends of the Crystal River State Parks, Inc.

Code of Ethics

Preamble

1. It is essential to the proper conduct and operation of the Friends of the Crystal River State Parks, Inc (the “CSO”) that its board members, officers and employees be independent and impartial and that their position not be used for private gain.  The Florida Legislature in Section 112, Florida Statute (FL Stat.), requires that the law protect against any conflict of interest and establish standards for the conduct of CSO board members, officers, and employees in situations where conflicts may exist.

2. It is the policy of the state that no CSO board member, officer or employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties for the CSO.  To implement this policy there is enacted a code of ethics setting forth standards of conduct required of the Friends of the Crystal River State Parks, Inc. board members, officers and employees of their official duties.

Standards

The following standards of conduct are required by Section 112, Fl Stat., to be observed by CSO board members, officers and employees.

  • 1.    Prohibition of Solicitation or Acceptance of Gifts

No CSO board member, officer or employee shall solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor or service, based upon any understanding that the vote, official action or judgment of the CSO board member, officer or employee would be influenced thereby.

  • 2.    Prohibition of Accepting Compensation Given to Influence a Vote

No CSO board member, officer or employee shall accept any compensation, payment or thing of value when the person knows, or, with reasonable care, should know that it was given to influence a vote or other action in which the CSO board member, officer or employee was expected to participate in his or her official capacity.

  • 3.    Salary and Expenses

No CSO board member or officer shall be prohibited from voting on a matter affecting his or her salary, expenses, or other compensation as a CSO board member or officer, as provided by law.

  • 4.    Prohibition of Misuse of Position

A CSO board member, officer or employee shall not corruptly use or attempt to use one’s official position or any property or resource which may be within one’s trust, or perform official duties, to secure a special privilege, benefit or exemption.

  • 5.    Prohibition of Misuse of Privileged Information

No CSO board member, officer or employee shall disclose or use information not available to members of the general public and gained by reason of one’s official position for one’s own personal gain or benefit or for the personal gain or benefit of any other person or business.

  • 6.    Post-Office/Employment Restrictions

A person who has been elected to any CSO board or office or who is employed by a CSO may not personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the governing body of the CSO of which he or she was a board member, officer or employee for a period of two years after he or she vacates that office or employment position.

  • 7.    Prohibition of Employees Holding Office

No person may be, at one time, both a CSO employee and a CSO board member at the same time.

  • 8.    Requirements to Abstain From Voting

A CSO board member or officer shall not vote in official capacity upon any measure that would affect his or her special private gain or loss, or which he or she knows would affect the special gain or any principal by whom the board member or officer is retained. When abstaining, the CSO board member or officer, prior to the vote being taken, shall make every reasonable effort to disclose the nature of his or her interest as a public record in a memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate the memorandum in the minutes. If it is not possible for the CSO board member of officer to file a memorandum before the vote, the memorandum must be filled with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting no later than 15 days after the vote.

  • 9.    Failure to Observe CSO Code of Ethics

Failure of a CSO board member, officer or employee to observe the Code of Ethics may result in the removal of that person from their position. Further, failure of the CSO to observe the Code of Ethics may result in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection terminating its agreement with the CSO.


Friends of the Crystal River State Parks, Inc. 3266 N. Sailboat Ave. Crystal River, FL 34428 Phone: (352) 228-6028

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