This same question was the subject of Advisory Opinion 01-03, issued March 21, 2001. In that Opinion, the Commission determined that a public works inspector could perform secondary employment conducting residential inspections to determine the condition of residential properties, but he or she was prohibited from inspecting new construction and conducting inspections to determine compliance with the New Castle County Code. The Commission finds that the reasoning supporting that holding is equally applicable to the current request for guidance and that the proposed secondary employment as an inspector of new construction would violate the Ethics Code.
In issuing this Advisory Opinion, the Ethics Commission is applying the New Castle County Code of Ethics, which establishes the minimum level of ethical conduct required of County officials and employees. The Commission cautions, however, that each County department, board, or other unit of County government is free to, and may impose as part of its own policy, additional or greater restrictions on its officials and employees than those set forth in this Opinion.
BY AND FOR THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSION ON THIS 8th DAY OF JUNE, 2005.
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Dennis S. Clower, Chairperson
Decision: Unanimous
