EASTON, Pa. – Northampton County Council unanimously adopted new ethics standards for county officials and employees, barring them from accepting gifts in certain situations.
- Northampton County Council adopted new measures limiting in what situations county officials and employees can accept gifts
- The county already had a policy banning gifts, but County Executive Lamont McClure criticized it as "vague"
- Members of council approved the new rules unanimously
The measure elaborates on existing gift restrictions for county employees, in part by making exceptions more specific for items like “unsolicited advertising, promotional or informational material,” or “any ceremonial gift or award which has insignificant value.”
It also adds specific examples of people from whom county employees cannot accept gifts, among them people who “conduct operations or activities that are regulated by the county,” who are involved in court proceedings where the county is “an adverse party,” or who have “financial relations” with the county.
“I think that it certainly is what the executive intended: to put the charter and administrative code in line on this section,” said Commissioner Ron Heckman. “I understand what he's doing and it makes sense.”
“It's important to recognize at this point that we do have an absolute gift ban — except the exceptions to the gift ban are big enough to drive a truck through.”Lamont McClure, Northampton County executive
County Executive Lamont McClure originated the legislation after criticizing the existing gift ban as “vague” in April. He said “complaints from citizens” about the county’s gift ban being violated prompted him to take a look at the rules.
“It's important to recognize at this point that we do have an absolute gift ban — except the exceptions to the gift ban are big enough to drive a truck through,” McClure said. “We must close those loopholes.”
