75 S T A T. ]
PUBLIC LAW 8 7 - 3 2 8 - S E P T. 27, 1961
(b) I n the appointment and promotion of officers and employees for the commission, no political, racial, religious or residence test or qualification shall be permitted or given consideration, but all such appointments and promotions shall be solely on the basis of merit and fitness. Any officer or employee of the commission who is found by the commission to be guilty of a violation of this section shall be removed from office by the commission. 14.6 Oath of Office. An oath of office in such form as the commission shall prescribe shall be taken, subscribed and filed with the commission by the executive director and by each officer appointed by him not later than fifteen days after the appointment. 14.7 Bond. Each officer shall give such bond and in such form and amount as the commission may require for which the commission may pay the premium. 14.8 Prohibited Activities. (a) No commissioner, officer or employee shall: 1) be financially interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract, sale, purchase, lease or transfer of real or personal property to which the commission is a party; 2) solicit or accept money or any other thing of value in addition to the compensation or expenses paid him by the commission for services performed within the scope of his official duties; 3) offer money or any thing of value for or in consideration of obtaining an appointment, promotion or privilege in his employment with the commission. (b) Any officer or employee who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit his office or employment. (c) Any contract or agreement knowingly made in contravention of this section is void. (d) Officers and employees of the commission shall be subject in addition to the provisions of this section to such criminal and civil sanctions for misconduct in office as may be imposed by federal law and the law of the sigiiatory state in which such misconduct occurs. 14.9 Purchasing. Contract for the construction, reconstruction or improvement of any facility when the expenditure required exceeds ten thousand dollars and contracts for the purchase of services, supplies, equipment and materials when the expenditure required exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars shall be advertised and let upon sealed bids to the lowest responsible bidder. Notice requesting such bids shall be published in a manner reasonably likely to attract prospective bidders, which publication shall be made at least ten days oefore bids are received and in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the basin. The commission may reject any and all bids and readvertise in its discretion. If after rejecting bids the commission determines and resolves that in its opinion the supplies, equipment and materials may be purchased at a lower price in the open market, the commission may give each responsible bidder an opportunity to negotiate a price and may proceed to purchase the supplies, equipment and materials in the open market at a negotiated price which is lower than the lowest rejected bid of a responsible bidder, without further observance of the provisions requiring bids or notice. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for purchasing from the lowest responsible bidder when sealed bids, notice and publication are not required by this section. The commission may suspend and waive the provisions of this section requiring competitive bids whenever: 1) the purchase is to be made from or the contract to be made with the federal or any state government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or pursuant to any open end bulk purcliase contract of any of them;
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