About Hillsborough County Parks
The Parks & Recreation Department operates numerous parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreation centers. The department also provides programs, events, and activities to Hillsborough County residents year-round.
12
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FORM
(Consistent with BOCC Policy 01.30.00.00, as pertaining
to BOCC appointments, this form is required for all
current members of and citizens seeking appointment,
reappointment, or confirmation of nomination to any
board, council, committee, or authority, including all
county staff, agency/governing body representatives,
and citizens appointed by individual commissioners)
RECOGNIZING THAT PERSONS HOLDING A POSITION OF PUBLIC TRUST
ARE UNDER CONSTANT OBSERVATION, AND RECOGNIZING THAT
MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY OF THE PUBLIC OFFICE IS
ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING HIGH LEVELS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN
OUR INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND IN THE IMPARTIALITY OF ALL
AUTHORITIES, BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILS, EVERY CURRENT
MEMBER
OF
AND
ALL
CITIZENS
SEEKING
APPOINTMENT,
REAPPOINTMENT, OR CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION TO ANY BOARD,
COUNCIL, COMMITTEE, OR AUTHORITY, INCLUDING ALL COUNTY STAFF,
AGENCY/GOVERNING
BODY
REPRESENTATIVES,
AND
CITIZENS
APPOINTED BY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, PLEDGE TO ADHERE TO
THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.
THE FLORIDA CODE OF ETHICS SHALL DETERMINE ANY QUESTION
RELATING TO VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 112, PART III, FLORIDA STATUTES.
1. Regularly attend all scheduled meetings of the respective authority, board,
committee, or council, as well as special or called meetings relevant to the
position.
2.
Prepare for each meeting.
3.
Create a positive environment in meetings of the respective authority,
board, committee, or council.
4.
Maintain an attitude of courtesy and consideration toward other Members,
citizens and staff during all discussions and deliberations.
5.
Allow other Members, citizens, and staff sufficient opportunity to present
their views, within the prescribed rules or bylaws of the respective
authority, board, committee, or council.
6.
Avoid the use of abusive, threatening or intimidating language or gestures
directed at other Members, citizens or staff.
7.
Avoid comments, body language or distracting activity that conveys a
message of disrespect and lack of interest.
8.
Not engage in harassing behavior or unwelcome conduct of a sexual
nature towards other Members, employees, clients or citizens.
13
9.
Members shall uphold the prestige of their office, and avoid impropriety
and the appearance of impropriety.
10.
Members shall not convey the impression that they are in a position to
influence the outcome of a decision of the respective authority, board,
committee, or council and shall not attempt to use their office to influence or
sway recommendations.
11.
Members shall discharge their duties and responsibilities without favor or
prejudice toward any person or group. Members shall not allow personal or
business relationships to impact upon their conduct or decisions in connection
with their appointed position and shall not lend their influence towards the
advancement of personal interests or towards the advancement
of the interests of friends or business associates. This provision is not
intended to prevent any Member from joining or having an affiliation with
any business, professional, or special interest organization.
12.
To the extent Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law, Chapter 286,
Florida Statutes, is applicable to an authority, board, committee, or council,
Members of that authority, board, committee, or council shall avoid creating
the appearance of impropriety by refraining from engaging in discussions
with any other Member of the same authority, board, committee, or council
about matters which would foreseeably come before the respective authority,
board, committee, or council for discussion. In addition, if a Member of an
authority, board, committee, or council that is subject to the Sunshine law
receives a written, telephonic or electronic communication about an item to
be discussed before the respective authority, board, committee, or council,
the Member will promptly forward the information to the county/staff liaison
or other appropriate person so that it may be shared with all other Members
at a public meeting.
13.
Members shall not accept or solicit a gift, loan, payment, favor, service,
promise of employment or business contract, meal, transportation or
anything else of value, if such thing is given with the understanding or
possibility that it will influence the official action of the Member. The
same standard shall apply to a gift, loan, favor, etc. for the spouse, child or
relative or business partner of the Member. Chapter 112, Florida Statutes,
shall govern all determinations of violations under this paragraph.
14.
During meetings or other activities of the authority, board, committee, or
council, Members shall not engage in any form of politicking, electioneering,
or other campaign related actions, including, but not limited to soliciting funds
from any other Member, citizen or staff in support of any organization or
person’s campaign for election to local or state public office; seeking
signatures from other Members, citizens, or staff to any petition provided for
by election law; distributing to other Members, citizens, or staff literature
favoring, opposing, comparing, or providing information about a candidate,
group of candidates, or other political positions or advocacy; or otherwise
discussing with other Members, citizens or staff one’s personal political views
or affiliations in a manner that is unrelated to the matters before the authority,
14
board, committee, or council and clearly in furtherance of a political
campaign.
15.
Members should refrain from participating in any proceeding in which their
impartiality may reasonably be questioned. A Member who’s personal,
employment or business relationship with a person or entity that is subject to
a recommendation of the respective authority, board, committee, or
council shall seek advice and counsel, if such relationship could
conceivably influence the Member's impartiality during discussions. The
provisions of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes shall govern conflict of interest
determinations.
16.
Members shall remain vigilant against deviations from respective BOCC
policies, (which may be applicable to the business of the authority, board,
committee, or council of which he or she is a member), by-laws, policies,
and any mission statements of the respective authority, board, committee, or
council.
17. Members shall respect all local, state and federal laws, rules and other
regulations.
18.
Violations of the Standards of Conduct shall be addressed in accordance with
Board Policy.
The commitment of all current members of and citizens seeking
appointment, reappointment, or confirmation of nomination to any board,
council, committee, or authority, including all county staff, agency/governing
body representatives, and citizens appointed by individual commissioners, in
meeting these Standards of Conduct, is affirmed by the following signature:
___
__ _
_
_
_ _
Printed Name of Member
Signature of Member
______________________________
____________________________
Name of Authority, Board, Committee
Date
or Council
Revised: November 6, 2013
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FORM
(Consistent with BOCC Policy 01.30.00.00, as pertaining
to BOCC appointments, this form is required for all
current members of and citizens seeking appointment,
reappointment, or confirmation of nomination to any
board, council, committee, or authority, including all
county staff, agency/governing body representatives,
and citizens appointed by individual commissioners)
RECOGNIZING THAT PERSONS HOLDING A POSITION OF PUBLIC TRUST
ARE UNDER CONSTANT OBSERVATION, AND RECOGNIZING THAT
MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY OF THE PUBLIC OFFICE IS
ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING HIGH LEVELS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN
OUR INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND IN THE IMPARTIALITY OF ALL
AUTHORITIES, BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILS, EVERY CURRENT
MEMBER
OF
AND
ALL
CITIZENS
SEEKING
APPOINTMENT,
REAPPOINTMENT, OR CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION TO ANY BOARD,
COUNCIL, COMMITTEE, OR AUTHORITY, INCLUDING ALL COUNTY STAFF,
AGENCY/GOVERNING
BODY
REPRESENTATIVES,
AND
CITIZENS
APPOINTED BY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, PLEDGE TO ADHERE TO
THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.
THE FLORIDA CODE OF ETHICS SHALL DETERMINE ANY QUESTION
RELATING TO VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 112, PART III, FLORIDA STATUTES.
1. Regularly attend all scheduled meetings of the respective authority, board,
committee, or council, as well as special or called meetings relevant to the
position.
2.
Prepare for each meeting.
3.
Create a positive environment in meetings of the respective authority,
board, committee, or council.
4.
Maintain an attitude of courtesy and consideration toward other Members,
citizens and staff during all discussions and deliberations.
5.
Allow other Members, citizens, and staff sufficient opportunity to present
their views, within the prescribed rules or bylaws of the respective
authority, board, committee, or council.
6.
Avoid the use of abusive, threatening or intimidating language or gestures
directed at other Members, citizens or staff.
7.
Avoid comments, body language or distracting activity that conveys a
message of disrespect and lack of interest.
8.
Not engage in harassing behavior or unwelcome conduct of a sexual
nature towards other Members, employees, clients or citizens.
13
9.
Members shall uphold the prestige of their office, and avoid impropriety
and the appearance of impropriety.
10.
Members shall not convey the impression that they are in a position to
influence the outcome of a decision of the respective authority, board,
committee, or council and shall not attempt to use their office to influence or
sway recommendations.
11.
Members shall discharge their duties and responsibilities without favor or
prejudice toward any person or group. Members shall not allow personal or
business relationships to impact upon their conduct or decisions in connection
with their appointed position and shall not lend their influence towards the
advancement of personal interests or towards the advancement
of the interests of friends or business associates. This provision is not
intended to prevent any Member from joining or having an affiliation with
any business, professional, or special interest organization.
12.
To the extent Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law, Chapter 286,
Florida Statutes, is applicable to an authority, board, committee, or council,
Members of that authority, board, committee, or council shall avoid creating
the appearance of impropriety by refraining from engaging in discussions
with any other Member of the same authority, board, committee, or council
about matters which would foreseeably come before the respective authority,
board, committee, or council for discussion. In addition, if a Member of an
authority, board, committee, or council that is subject to the Sunshine law
receives a written, telephonic or electronic communication about an item to
be discussed before the respective authority, board, committee, or council,
the Member will promptly forward the information to the county/staff liaison
or other appropriate person so that it may be shared with all other Members
at a public meeting.
13.
Members shall not accept or solicit a gift, loan, payment, favor, service,
promise of employment or business contract, meal, transportation or
anything else of value, if such thing is given with the understanding or
possibility that it will influence the official action of the Member. The
same standard shall apply to a gift, loan, favor, etc. for the spouse, child or
relative or business partner of the Member. Chapter 112, Florida Statutes,
shall govern all determinations of violations under this paragraph.
14.
During meetings or other activities of the authority, board, committee, or
council, Members shall not engage in any form of politicking, electioneering,
or other campaign related actions, including, but not limited to soliciting funds
from any other Member, citizen or staff in support of any organization or
person’s campaign for election to local or state public office; seeking
signatures from other Members, citizens, or staff to any petition provided for
by election law; distributing to other Members, citizens, or staff literature
favoring, opposing, comparing, or providing information about a candidate,
group of candidates, or other political positions or advocacy; or otherwise
discussing with other Members, citizens or staff one’s personal political views
or affiliations in a manner that is unrelated to the matters before the authority,
14
board, committee, or council and clearly in furtherance of a political
campaign.
15.
Members should refrain from participating in any proceeding in which their
impartiality may reasonably be questioned. A Member who’s personal,
employment or business relationship with a person or entity that is subject to
a recommendation of the respective authority, board, committee, or
council shall seek advice and counsel, if such relationship could
conceivably influence the Member's impartiality during discussions. The
provisions of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes shall govern conflict of interest
determinations.
16.
Members shall remain vigilant against deviations from respective BOCC
policies, (which may be applicable to the business of the authority, board,
committee, or council of which he or she is a member), by-laws, policies,
and any mission statements of the respective authority, board, committee, or
council.
17. Members shall respect all local, state and federal laws, rules and other
regulations.
18.
Violations of the Standards of Conduct shall be addressed in accordance with
Board Policy.
The commitment of all current members of and citizens seeking
appointment, reappointment, or confirmation of nomination to any board,
council, committee, or authority, including all county staff, agency/governing
body representatives, and citizens appointed by individual commissioners, in
meeting these Standards of Conduct, is affirmed by the following signature:
___
__ _
_
_
_ _
Printed Name of Member
Signature of Member
______________________________
____________________________
Name of Authority, Board, Committee
Date
or Council
Revised: November 6, 2013