Vincent Gray Transition Team
Code of ethical conduct and Volunteer disclosure Form
November 18, 2010

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Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray Transition Team

Code of Ethical Conduct for Volunteers

Introduction

As Mayor-Elect, Vincent Gray has pledged his commitment to operating not only his administration, but also his transition team, under the highest standards of conduct and integrity. The Mayor-Elect’s Transition Team will be made up of volunteers from all parts of Washington, D.C., with diverse viewpoints and backgrounds. All volunteers for the transition team will be required to sign this Code of Ethical Conduct before being allowed to participate in the transition in order to (1) prevent conflicts of interest, (3) disclose potential conflicts, (4) define the scope of the volunteers’ authority, and (4) provide for disclosure of all volunteers.

Conflicts of Interest: Some of those team members have interacted with the City government in the past and will do so in the future. The Mayor-Elect welcomes these diverse views, but recognizes that it is essential to make certain that those individuals who participate in the transition do not have any conflicts of interest—or even the appearance of a conflict of interest— that will undermine the integrity of the transition process. Therefore, all members of the transition will agree to follow a strict Code of Ethical Conduct.

Vetting of Conflicts: In addition, as part of the Code of Ethical Conduct, volunteer members are required to disclose sources of conflicts and potential conflicts so that the transition can either disqualify those volunteers from serving on the transition, impose appropriate limits on the persons’ input to the transition, or otherwise implement procedures to mitigate the conflict of interest.

Scope of Work: Moreover, the Code of Ethical Conduct outlines the scope of the volunteers’ tasks and authority and makes clear that volunteers are not authorized to comment on the transition or the Mayor-Elect’s policies unless specifically granted such authorization by Doxie McCoy, Spokeswoman to the Mayor-Elect. The role of the volunteer members of the transition team is to bring ideas to the Mayor Elect and help him to formulate this policies and positions. Each team will report directly to an employee of the transition and may not act without approval of that employee.

Disclosure: All members of the transition will be publicly disclosed on www. Graytransition2010.org, and the Code of Ethical Conduct requires volunteers to agree to this disclosure.

In sum, the Mayor Elect is eager to hear from a diverse array of individuals—citizens, community leaders, business leaders, educators, and experts—to help him to shape and frame his policies during the two months leading up to his inauguration. The Mayor Elect has zero-tolerance for those who seek to bring improper influence, conflicts of interest, or other deviation from standards of good conduct, and this Code of Ethical Conduct and the accompanying disclosure forms are the first step in preventing ethical problems from arising.

Code of Ethical Conduct

By signing below, I agree to serve as a volunteer member of Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray Transition Team, and I further agree to abide by the following requirements:

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts

1. In order to serve as a volunteer on the Gray Transition Team (“Transition Team”), I will complete the attached Volunteer Disclosure Form completely and accurately.
2. I agree that my volunteer service may be terminated if the Transition Team learns that I have knowingly misstated any facts on the Volunteer Disclosure Form. Moreover, I agree that the Transition Team may comment publicly should such a situation arise.
3. I agree that the information provided in the Volunteer Disclosure Form will be kept confidential within the Transition Team and will not be disclosed publicly.

Standards of Conduct

4. I will disqualify myself from involvement in any particular Transition Team matter which, to my knowledge, may directly conflict with a financial interest of an immediate family member, partner, client, or other individual or organization with which I have had a business relationship within the past 12 months.
5. During my service with the Transition Team, I will not communicate with or appear before any District executive agency with respect to which I have substantial responsibility during the activities of the Transition Team, on behalf of any other person or entity. I will promptly cause my firm or organization to establish reasonable procedures to assure that I will not participate in any undertaking with respect to which I am affected by this provision.
6. I agree that I will not represent any client before an executive agency of the District of Columbia—as either a lobbyist or otherwise—for a period of six months after the inauguration if the representation would involve a particular matter on which I was involved on the Transition Team.
7. Should there be any question about a conflict described in numbers 4, 5, or 6, I will immediately contact the Transition Team Ethics Officer and receive a determination as to whether I may continue to serve on the Transition Team.
8. I will not solicit or accept any money or things of value in exchange for a promise to support or use influence on behalf of any person who is a candidate for any appointive office or place in the District of Columbia Government.

Authority

9. I understand that in my Transition Team-related activities, unless given specific authorization, I am not permitted to make any representations on behalf of the Transition Team, and in all my service to the Transition, I will identify myself only as acting on behalf of the Transition Team on transition-related matters.

Use of Information and District Resources

10. I understand that authorization is required from the Transition Team Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee before seeking, on behalf of the Transition Team, access to any non-public information.
11. I will hold in confidence any non-public information provided to me in the course of my duties with the Transition Team and ensure that such information is used exclusively for purpose of the Transition Team.
12. I will not use or permit to be used any non-public information in any manner, for any private gain for myself of any other party, at any time during or after the operation of the Transition Team.
13. I will conserve and protect any District property entrusted to me, and shall not use District property, including motor vehicles or other forms of transportation, stationery, printing, equipment and supplies, other than for purposes directly related to the activities of the Transition Team.

Gifts

14. Neither I nor any member of my immediate family will accept a gift from:
    1. Anyone who is seeking a job with the District government;
    2. A District employee in any agency or department within the scope of my Transition Team responsibilities;
    3. Any Transition Team person or organization that conducts activities regulated by or has a matter pending before an agency or department within the scope of my Transition Team responsibilities; or
    4. Any person or organization under circumstances where it may reasonably appear that the gift is being given in order to influence my decisions, advice, recommendations, or actions as a member of the Transition Team.

I understand that my commitment to abide by these requirements may be made public and that this document will be made available to any department or agency to which I may be assigned. I will seek guidance from the Counsel to the Transition Team, or designated agency ethics officials, as appropriate, if necessary to ensure compliance with these standards of conduct. I furthermore acknowledge that failure to comply with the above provisions may result in my dismissal.

Signature:   
Printed Name:   
Date:

Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray Transition Team

Volunteer Disclosure Form

Name:

_________________________   ________________________   _____________________   ________
First                                              Middle                                         Last                                      Suffix

Contact Information:

___________________________________________________________________________________
Address

_________________________   ________________________   ____________  __________________
City                                               State                                           Zip                      Email Address

(_____) ________-__________   (_____) ________-__________   (_____) ________-__________   
Home Phone                                   Work Phone                                   Cell Phone

Employer Information:

____________________________________   _____________________________________________
Employer                                                             Job Title

___________________________________________________________________________________
Address

_________________________   ________________________   ____________  
City                                               State                                           Zip                     

Volunteer Interest:

{ADD CHECK BOXES FOR COMMITTEES/AREAS OF INTEREST} 

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

For purposes of this disclosure, “transacted business with the District of Columbia Government” means entered into a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with one or more agencies of the District of Columbia within the prior 12 months, or bidding, negotiating, or seeking a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with one or more agencies of the District of Columbia within the prior 12 months.

Please check all of the following that apply and complete the information required for any items that you check:

❑ 1. I am registered to lobby the District of Columbia Government.

Clients and Issues Lobbied (issues listed by client):

❑ Check here if additional information provided on addendum page.

❑ 2. I have represented one or more clients within the pasts three years before a District of Columbia agency.

List agencies and brief description of issues for each agency—do not disclose client(s):

❑ Check here if additional information provided on addendum page.

❑ 3. I, an immediate family member, or a company in which I or an immediate family member, have a 10 percent or greater ownership interest has transacted business with the District of Columbia Government in the past 12 months.

List the entity within the government that conducted the business, the name of the company doing business with the government, the nature of the business, and the approximate value of the contract (rounded to the nearest $25,000):

❑ Check here if additional information provided on addendum page.

❑ 4. If I am the president, vice-president (or any level of VP, e.g., executive VP), an officer, or a partner in the company listed above as my employer, my employer has transacted business with the District of Columbia Government in the past 12 months.

List the entity within the government that conducted the business, the name of the company doing business with the government, the nature of the business, and the approximate value of the contract (rounded to the nearest $25,000) (If this is the same information as Number 4, simply refer to 4):

❑ Check here if additional information provided on addendum page.

❑ 5. I have been employed by the District of Columbia Government in the past three years.

List positions and dates.

❑ Check here if additional information provided on addendum page.

Resume:

Please attach a current resume or other biography to this Volunteer Disclosure Form. Additional Information:

Please provide any additional information that you think will help the Transition Team address any conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest:

❑ Check here if additional information provided on addendum page.

Certification of Accuracy and Completeness:

1. By signing below, I affirm that:
2. The information I have provided on this form is accurate;
3. The information on this form is complete and I have not omitted any material information that could impact my duties for the Transition Team;
4. That I understand that I have an affirmative obligation to update the Transition Team should any of the information on this Volunteer Disclosure Form materially change before the inauguration;
5. That my name and position with the transition will be publicly disclosed by the Transition Team; and
6. The Transition Team will not disclose other information in this form, unless it is determined that the information provided is inaccurate or materially incomplete. Should the Transition Team receive a subpoena or other legal order requiring disclosure of information in this form, it will comply with such subpoena or other order within its discretion.

_________________________________________    ______________________
Signature                                                                        Date

For Use By Transition Team Only

Date Received:             _{_______________________}
Date Reviewed:            ____________________
Reviewed By (initials):  _{_______________________}
Team Assigned:            _{_______________________}
Conflicts Notes:

Addendum (page ___ of ___):

Use this page (or make copes of this page if more are needed) to complete answers to any question for which additional space is needed. Please clearly identify the question number. All information on this page is subject to the Certification of Accuracy and Completeness.