Penalties

1. What punishments can the Commission impose for violating the Code?
   
   Answer: If the Commission determines that an employee violated the Ethics Code, it may impose a fine of up to $5,000 per violation or three times the value of the violation, order restitution, and/or recommend discipline.
   
   In the case of volunteer members of advisory committees, the ceilings on fines are as follows: The Commission may impose a fine of up to $1,000 for failure to disqualify themselves from matters in which they have financial interests; the Commission may impose a monetary fine of up to $250 for failure to disclose apparent impaired judgment in the performance of advisory committee duties; and the Commission may impose a fine of up to $5,000 per violation for other violations of the Ethics Code, including improper use of official position for private gain, improper use of City resources, accepting or soliciting gifts, and use or disclosure of privileged information for other than a City purpose. In each circumstance, the Commission may require reimbursement of damages and costs, and may recommend censure or removal from the committee as well as cancellation of the decision made that the volunteer improperly participated in.
   
   
2. Can the Commission fire me for violating the Code?
   
   Answer: No. The Commission has no authority to discipline employees. Only the hiring authority-in most cases the Department Head-has authority to discipline employees or terminate employment.
   
   Your department does not have to follow the recommendation for discipline. If discipline is carried out, personnel procedures for the disciplinary action must be followed and the outcome reported to the Commission.