ORANGE : Law Would Ban Free Lunches, Other Gifts

City Council members moved to put an end to gratis lunches and other freebies with the introduction this week of a gift ban for all city officials and employees.

The ban would take effect Oct. 1 if adopted, as expected, at the council’s July 26 meeting. Under its terms, council members and employees would be able to accept up to $5 worth of coffee, doughnuts or wine, but will have to pay entrance fees to events such as Chamber of Commerce mixers.

The ordinance takes its definition of gift from the state’s Political Reform Act, which considers a gift to be anything of value not offered to the general public, said activist Shirley Grindle, an Orange resident who drafted the ban.

Lobbyists and those doing business with the city could not take officials out to lunch or dinner, pay for trips or memberships to clubs, or for functions that charge the general public for entry, she said.

Exceptions to the ban are “informational material,” such as books and calendars, gifts from immediate family members, reported campaign contributions and personalized plaques or trophies worth less than $250.

Officials may also enter charitable or educational events free of charge and accept flowers, plants and balloons as long as one source does not give more than $50 worth of these gifts during the course of the year. They must return other gifts or donate them to charity without claiming a charitable tax deduction, according to the ordinance.

Grindle said she patterned the ordinance on the gift ban adopted last year by the County Board of Supervisors.

Councilwoman Joanne Coontz said some businesspeople in the city were concerned about the repercussions of the law, which could lead to misdemeanor charges if violated.

“There’s a strong possibility that we’ll be giving a negative message to the business community if we don’t explain what we’re doing,” she said.

Coontz proposed adding a preamble to the ordinance noting that the law was not drafted in “an accusatory way.” But other council members refused to delay the vote until a preamble could be drafted.

City Atty. Robert O. Franks said he would explain the law to city employees and the council agreed to prepare an explanatory package to go with copies of it.

Grindle explained what she had in mind when City Manager David F. Dixon brought up the example of a reception business leaders gave him when he was first appointed to office.

“This is what this ordinance is set to stop,” Grindle said. “That’s what disenfranchises the public out there because they can’t hold receptions for you. This is about the wining and dining of city officials.”