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Bozeman Board of Ethics adopts updated city ethics handbook
Summary
The Bozeman Board of Ethics on Feb. 26, 2025, unanimously approved a revised ethics handbook that updates citations, clarifies gift rules tied to Ordinance 2,092 and describes the citys annual ethics training process.
The Bozeman Board of Ethics voted unanimously Feb. 26, 2025, to adopt a revised city ethics handbook that updates code citations, clarifies the citys gift rules and outlines how annual ethics training is created and delivered.
Assistant City Attorney Jen Gattari presented the handbook revisions during the boards Feb. 26 meeting, saying the handbook had not been updated since 2013 and that most changes were clerical or citation updates. "Section 10 outlines the gift provision of the code of ethics," Gattari said, and she told the board one substantive change in the handbook was to reflect amendments added to the code by Ordinance 2,092 in December 2021.
The handbook now lists the categories excluded from the definition of a gift under the Bozeman Municipal Code, and it restates that both state law and the municipal code must be consulted on gift questions. Gattari described the training program the handbook references: a core committee recruits about 15 to 20 employee volunteers who pair up to draft two to three scenario-based modules; the committee then refines those scenarios and brings them to the Board of Ethics for review before trainers deliver the content citywide. "Once the small groups create 2 to 3 scenarios, we then come back together as a large group as the ethics committee, and fine tune the scenarios," Gattari said.
A board member asked whether nepotism restrictions prevent family members from working for the city in different departments. City staff said the employee handbook addresses nepotism and that family members may work in different departments provided no one is in the other's chain of supervision; the board did not adopt additional nepotism language at the meeting.
After the presentation and a brief period for questions, a board member moved to adopt the handbook; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board recorded the action as approved, tally 3-0. The meeting also postponed a planned work session item (E2) to a later date by unanimous voice vote and then adjourned.
The revised handbook updates citations to the Bozeman Municipal Code, restates the constitutional and statutory basis for public-employee ethics as described to the board, and incorporates the gift exclusions added by Ordinance 2,092 (Dec. 2021). City staff noted the City Commission gave the related ordinance final adoption the night before the board meeting and that the ordinance will become effective after the 30-day statutory period unless something unexpected occurs.
Votes at a glance: The Board of Ethics approved the revised Bozeman City ethics handbook (motion to adopt passed by voice vote, tally 3-0); postponed agenda item E2 (motion to postpone passed by voice vote, tally 3-0); and voted to adjourn (voice vote, tally 3-0).
