The Town Board of the Town of Wheatland recognizes that there are state
statutory provisions mandating towns to establish rules and standards of ethical
conduct for public officers and employees which, if observed, can enhance
public confidence in local government. In the light of a tendency today on
the part of some people to downgrade our local governments and to discredit
our public servants and our free institutions generally, it appears necessary
that every effort be made to assure the highest caliber of public administration
of this Town as part of our state's important system of local government.
It is the purpose of this chapter to implement this objective through the
establishment of standards of conduct and to provide for punishment of violation
of such standards.
The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein are
in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions or procedures
prescribed by statute of the State of New York and also in addition to common
law rules and judicial decisions relating to the conduct of town officers
to the extent that the same are more severe in their application than this
chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
TOWN
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department
or unit of the government of the Town of Wheatland.
TOWN EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town of Wheatland, whether paid or
unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
No town employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct
or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity
or incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with
the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law,
any town employee who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the
provisions of this chapter may be fined, suspended or removed from office
or employment in the manner provided by law.
[Added 2-1-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
The Supervisor shall cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed
to every officer and employee of the Town. Failure to distribute any such
copy or failure of any officer or employee to receive such copy shall have
no effect on the duty of compliance with such code, nor the enforcement of
provisions thereof.