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STANDARDS OF CONDUCT PART THREE 3
CODE OF ETHICS
The City Council shall hereby adopt a Code of Ethics by which it shall be governed. The purpose and intent of
this Code of Ethics is to prescribe a high standard of conduct for members of the Newport News City Council. in
order to promote public confidence in the integrity of local government as well as its fair and effective operation.
Achieving this requires that Council members:
1. Obey all applicable laws regarding official actions taken as a Council member.
a. Support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia.
b. Administer the laws of the Nation, Commonwealth, and City fairly and impartially.
c. Abide by the spirit and the letter of the laws of the United States, Virginia and City.
d. Carry out all lawful orders and policies, including this Code of Ethics, of the City Council.
2. Act with Integrity and Independence.
a. Grant no special treatment or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other
citizen except by due process of law.
b. Grant to every citizen a fair and impartial hearing on any matter which may be heard before the
public official.
c. Avoid the appearance of impropriety.
3. Abstain from voting upon a matter in which the public official has a personal interest, except as permitted
by law after full disclosure of such interest.
4. Refuse to offer or accept personal gifts, favors, or special privileges in every instance where there is a
reasonable likelihood that the gift, favor or special privilege is being afforded or if received would influence
him or her in the performance of official duties.
5. Not use information that is unavailable to the general public for his or her personal or financial advantage.
6. Faithfully perform the duties of office.
a. Council members shall faithfully attend all relevant public meetings whenever possible.
b. Council members shall endeavor to be prepared in advance of public meetings in order to effectively
participate in such meetings.
c. Council members shall refrain from engaging in conversations outside of formal quasi-judicial hearings
over which they will preside.
7. Conduct official business in an open and public manner.
a. Council members shall comply with all applicable laws related to open meetings and public records.
b. Council members shall foster an atmosphere of transparency and candor in conducting public business.
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