Sometimes a County employee is unsure about the conflict-of-interest implications of pursuing a particular course of action. The employee can ask the Ethics Commission about this, and the Commission might then issue a formal decision (an Advisory Opinion or a Waiver) in response.

Below are more brain-teasers. In the answers to these are references to the relevant Advisory Opinions and Waivers, which persons interested in further details can then consult on the Ethics Commission website.

Brainteaser 2-1: Is an unpaid member of a County board, commission, or committee considered to be a "public employee" with regard to the applicability of the County Ethics Law?

Brainteaser 2-2: Mr. Pruffle, who left County employment less than ten years ago, has been offered work with a County subcontractor on a specific matter in which he significantly participated as a public employee. Is Mr. Pruffle allowed to do this work without a waiver from the Ethics Commission?

 Brainteaser 2-3: Fogg, a lawyer who is a member of a County Commission, wishes, as part of her ongoing private practice, to represent a client in a case in which the County is an opposing party. Is Fogg allowed to do this work without a waiver from the Ethics Commission?

Brainteaser 2-4: Wardle, a County employee who must file a public financial disclosure, objects to providing information about his wife's holdings and debts, since he and his wife own nothing jointly, filed separate tax returns, and signed a legal agreement specifying that their financial holdings would be held separately. Does Wardle have to reveal his wife's holdings and debts in his financial disclosure statement?

Brainteaser 2-5: Elliott, a County employee, wishes to serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit corporation that receives County funding. Is she allowed to do this?

Brainteaser 2-6: A person who does business with a County agency offers two gift cards, worth $50 each, to an employee of that agency. Is the employee allowed to accept the gift cards?

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