§ 2-78. Findings.

The city commission finds that:

(1)

The public judges its government by the way public officials and employees conduct themselves in the posts to which they are elected or appointed.

(2)

All government of right originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole. Public officers are the trustees and servants of the people and are at all times amenable to them pursuant to Ga. Const. art. 1, § 2, ¶ 1.

(3)

The people of this state have the inherent right to regulate their internal government. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and at all times, the people have the right to alter or reform the same whenever the public good may require it pursuant to Ga. Const. art. 1, § 2, ¶ 2.

(4)

The people have the right to expect that every public official will conduct himself/herself in a manner that will tend to preserve public confidence in and respect for the government he/she represents.

(5)

Such confidence and respect can be best promoted if every public official, whether paid or unpaid, and whether elected or appointed, will uniformly:

a.

Treat all citizens with courtesy, impartiality, fairness and equality under the law; and

b.

Avoid conflicts between his/her private self-interest and the public interest.

(Prior Code, § 47-1)