HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-14-2001 Use of City Business CardsBROWN, WARD, SALZMAN & WEISS, P.A.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Usher L. Brown
John H. Ward
Gary S. Salzman*
Jeffrey S. Weiss
Suzanne D'Agresta
Anthony A. Garganese°
Scott D. Danahy
James G. Vickaryous
Allison Carmine McDonald
Alfred Truesdell
Arthur R. "Randy" Brown, Jr.
Brett A. Marlowe
Jeffrey P. Buak
Kristine R. Kutz
4 Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
° Board Certified Business Litigation Lawyer
° Board Certified City, County & Local Government Law
May 14, 2001
The Honorable Paul Partyka and
Members of the City Commission
City of Winter Springs
1126 East S. R. 434
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Re: Use of City Business Cards
Dear Mayor Partyka and Members of the City Commission:
111 North Orange Ave., Suite 875
Post Office Box 2873
Orlando, FL 32802-2873
(407) 425-9566
(407) 425-9596 FAX
Website: www.orlandolaw.net
e-mail:agarganese@orlandolaw.net
Cocoa, FL: (866) 425-9566
As you recall, the City Commission directed that I prepare several draft questions for you to
consider regarding the City Commission's desire to request a formal ethics opinion on the use of City
business cards. The original question which I originally proposed was considered a question too
general in nature. The following for your consideration is the original question and several
alternatives:
Original: During the course of handling their private business and personal affairs, may
the City Commissioners and/or the Mayor occasionally provide, upon or
without request, City business cards to individuals in person or with
correspondence?
Alternatives:
1. During the course of handling a business transaction with a person, for
private profit or gain, may a city commissioner/mayor provide a city business
The Honorable Paul Partyka and Members of the City Commission
City of Winter Springs
May 14, 2001
Page 2
card to that person, with correspondence or in person, if the person is likely
to be seeking approval of a city permit from the city commission?
2. While engaged in the solicitation of customers for their personal business
may a city commissioner/mayor insert a city business card in personal
business correspondences for purposes of promoting themselves for personal
profit or gain?
3. May a city commissioner/mayor distribute a city business card to a person for
purposes of promoting themselves for personal profit or gain?
4. During the course of handling a private business transaction with a person,
may the city commissioner/mayor distribute a city business card to that
person if the city commissioner/mayor only stands to personally profit or gain
from the transaction and the transaction is completely unrelated to city
business?
5. May a city commissioner/mayor distribute a city business card to a person if
the city commissioner/mayor has reason to believe that the city business card
was only given to influence that person's decision to engage in a private
business transaction in which the city commissioner/mayor will personally
gain or profit?
Please review and provide me with your comments at your earliest convenience so that I can
fine tune one or more draft questions to be submitted to the Commission on Ethics. Upon
completion of the draft question(s), this matter will be placed on the City Commission's Agenda for
final approval.
cer y,
Anthony A. Garganese
City Attorney
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