Page 58 - FGLN SC Onboarding Binder 2021

Flint & Genesee Literacy Network Conflict of Interest/Code of Conduct Policy
The Flint & Genesee Literacy Network (“FGLN”) strives to maintain the highest ethical standards in all policies, procedures and programs and strives to avoid any conflict of interest. All Steering Committee members, employees and volunteers shall act with honesty, integrity and openness in their dealings as representatives of FGLN.
Conflicts of interest may be of varying forms or degrees and may be real or apparent. To address actual and potential conflicts of interest, the following procedures will be followed:
1. Disclosure. When a Steering Committee member or employee is affiliated with an organizationseekingtoprovideservices,equipmentorfacilitiestoFGLN,orwhichmay be eligible for grants from FGLN, or when such an individual has any duality of interest or possible conflict of interest, real or apparent, such affiliation or conflict of interest should be disclosed and made a matter or record, either when the interest becomes a matter of official action of a meeting or as part of a periodic procedure to be established by the Steering Committee. An affiliationwithanorganizationwillbeconsideredtoexistwhenaSteering Committee member, officer, employee, volunteer or a member of his or her immediate family orcloserelativeisanofficer, director,trustee,partner,employeeoragentoftheorganization, or has any other substantial interest or dealings with the organization.
2. Comparability Data. When action is needed to secure services, equipment or facilities from an organization with which a Steering Committee member, officer, employee or volunteer is affiliated, comparability data will be presented, and the minutes of the meeting shall reflect that comparability data was considered and used as a basis for making the decision. Where a SteeringCommittee member,officer,employeeorvolunteerisaffiliatedwithanorganization seekingtoprovide services,equipmentorfacilitiestoFGLN,reasonableeffortsshallbemade toascertain thatamorebeneficialarrangementcouldnothavebeenobtained.
3. Voting. Any Steering Committee member, officer or volunteer having a duality of interest or possibleconflict ofinterestonanymattershouldnotvoteorusehisorherpersonalinfluence on the matter. The minutes of the meeting should reflect that the disclosure was made, and thattheinterestedparty abstainedfromvoting.
4. State of Position. The foregoing requirements should not be construed to prevent a Steering Committee member, officer, employee or volunteer from stating his or her position onthematterunder consideration,norfromansweringquestionsofotherSteering Committee members, officers, staff or volunteers relating to the matter. However, after statinghis/herpositionandansweringany questions,theSteeringCommitteemember, officerorvolunteershouldnotparticipatefurtherinthe deliberationofthematter.
5. Duty of Good Faith. Steering Committee members, officers, employees and volunteers shall exercisethe utmostgoodfaithinalltransactionstouchingupontheirdutiestoFGLNandits property. In their dealings with and on behalf of FGLN, they shall be held to a strict rule of honest and fair dealing between themselves and FGLN. They shall not use their positions, or knowledge gained from their positions, in a way that a conflict may arise between their own personal interest and that of FGLN.