Athens City Code

1. (1) An official or employee may not accept, directly or indirectly, any money, gift, gratuity, or other consideration or favor of any kind from anyone other than the municipality:
   1. (a) For the performance of an act, or refraining from performance of an act, that he would be expected to perform, or refrain from performing, in the regular course of his duties; or
   2. (b) That might reasonably be interpreted as an attempt to influence his action, or reward him for past action, in executing municipal business.
2. (2) The following are not deemed to be a prohibition against accepting any money, gift, gratuity, or other consideration or favor of any kind:
   1. (a) Any gift, excluding money, intended for all department heads, all members of the city council, or all members of any committee or board appointed by city council at or near a holiday given for a non-business purpose and motivated by the holiday season;
   2. (b) Any unsolicited token or award of appreciation in recognition of public service in the form of a plaque, trophy, desk item, or other similar item, provided that any such item shall not be in a form that can be readily converted to cash;
   3. (c) Informational materials in the form of books, articles, periodicals, other written materials, audio tapes, video tapes or other forms of communication;
   4. (d) Gifts that are given for a non-business purpose and motivated by a close personal friendship;
   5. (e) Sample merchandise, promotional items, and appreciation tokens if such merchandise items and tokens are routinely given to customers, suppliers, or potential customers, or suppliers in the ordinary course of business, the value of which to the official or employee does not exceed $50.00 per occasion or accumulative value of more than $100.00 to the official or employee during a calendar year from the same person or business entity; and
   6. (f) Food, refreshments, meals, or beverages, the value of which to the official or employee does not exceed $50.00 per occasion or accumulative value of more than $100.00 to the official or employee during a calendar year from the same person or business entity.

(Code 1995, § 1-505; Ord. No. 956, 6-19-2007)