(a) Any person subject to the Code of Ethics may ask the Board for an advisory opinion on the meaning or application of this Code to that person. A supervisor may ask the Board for an advisory opinion about the meaning or application of this Code to the employment-related conduct of any employee supervised by the supervisor. In this section, “supervisor” means a Commissioner, the General Manager, Deputy General Manager, Team Chief, head of a staff office, and Group Leaders. Supervisors below those levels shall make any requests through the appropriate Group Leader. Unless the subject of the opinion authorizes disclosure, the Board must keep the names of the requesting party and the subject of the opinion confidential.

(b) A Commissioner may request an advisory opinion from the Board for a decision as to whether the Commission should enter into a professional services contract for legal services for a Commissioner in the event that the Commission rejects a contract for legal services for a Commissioner or fails to make a decision on the contract for legal services for a Commissioner, and the appeal of the Commission’s decision concerning the contract for legal services has not been resolved as described in WSSC 1.35.050(B)(3). The advisory opinion of the Board shall be binding on the Commission and shall be final.

(c) The Board must publish each opinion when it is issued unless the Board finds that the privacy interest of an employee or other person clearly and substantially outweighs the public’s needs to be informed about Board actions. The Board must take all reasonable steps consistent with making the opinion useful for public guidance to keep confidential the identity of any person who is affected by the opinion request. (Res. 2012-1942; Res. 2003-1669 § 1(2-2))