The Battle Ground City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt an ethics ordinance.
The ordinance will go into effect in 30 days and will apply to all city officials, which includes all paid and unpaid elected and appointed officials and city employees.
The ordinance prohibits all city officials from involvement in activities that could be seen as, among other things, conflicting with the conduct of city business; using the official’s position to secure personal benefit or special privileges; using city property, materials or money for personal or private gain; or giving or receiving compensation for a matter connected to the city.
The code also defines the procedure for disciplining violators.
The Battle Ground City Council asked city staff members to develop an ethics ordinance following a probe this year into possible leaks of information from closed-door meetings of the council. The investigation found no wrong-doing.
