Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Board of Trustees of the incorporated Village of
Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York, recognizes that there
are rules of ethical conduct for public officers and employees which
must be observed if a high degree of moral conduct is to be obtained
and if public confidence is to be maintained in our unit of local
government. It is the purpose of this chapter to promulgate these
rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees of the Village
of Sleepy Hollow. These rules shall serve as a guide for official
conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Sleepy Hollow.
The rules of ethical conduct of this chapter, as adopted, shall not
conflict with but shall be in addition to any prohibition of Article
18 of the General Municipal Law or any other general or special law
relating to ethical conduct and interest in contracts of municipal
officers and employees.
[Amended 1-22-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
INTEREST
A direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing
to a municipal officer or employee as the result of a contract with
the municipality which such officer or employee serves, unless the
context otherwise requires. For the purposes of this chapter, a municipal
officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract
of his spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of
employment with the municipality which such officer or employee serves,
a firm, partnership or association of which such officer or employee
is a member or employee, a corporation of which such officer or employee
is an officer, director or employee and a corporation any stock of
which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer
or employee.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer, employee or volunteer of the Village of Sleepy
Hollow, whether paid or unpaid, including members of any administrative
board, commission or other agency thereof. No person shall be deemed
to be a municipal officer or employee solely by reason of being a
volunteer fire fighter or civil defense volunteer.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Sleepy Hollow shall
be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. Gifts. He shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit any gift, or
accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 or more, whether
in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality,
thing or promise or any other form, under circumstances in which it
could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended to influence
him or could reasonably be expected to influence him in the performance
of his official duties or was intended as a reward for any official
action on his part.
[Amended 1-22-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
B. Confidential information. He shall not disclose confidential information
acquired by him in the course of his official duties or use such information
to further his personal interest.
C. Representation before one's own agency. He shall not receive,
or enter into any agreement for, express or implied, compensation
for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any municipal
agency of which he is an officer, member or employee or before any
municipal agency over which he has jurisdiction or to which he has
the power to appoint any member, officer or employee.
D. Representation before any agency for a contingent fee. He shall not
receive, or enter into any agreement for, express or implied, compensation
for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any agency
of his municipality whereby his compensation is to be dependent or
contingent upon any action by such agency with respect to such matter,
provided that this subsection shall not prohibit the fixing at any
time of fees based upon the reasonable value of the services rendered.
E. Disclosure of interest in legislation. To the extent that he knows
thereof, a member of the Board of Trustees and any officer or employee
of the Village of Sleepy Hollow who participates in the discussion
or gives official opinion to the Board of Trustees on any legislation
before the Board of Trustees shall publicly disclose on the official
record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or
other private interest he has in such legislation.
[Amended 1-22-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
F. Investments in conflict with official duties. He shall not invest
or hold any investment, directly or indirectly, in any financial,
business, commercial or other private transaction which creates a
conflict with his official duties.
G. Private employment. He shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate for
or promise to accept private employment or render services for private
interests when such employment or service creates a conflict with
or impairs the proper discharge of his official duties.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to bar or prevent the timely
filing by a present or former municipal officer or employee of any
claim, account, demand or suit against the incorporated Village of
Sleepy Hollow, or any agency thereof, on behalf of himself or any
member of his family arising out of any personal injury or property
damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law.
[Amended 1-22-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013]
The Mayor of the Village of Sleepy Hollow shall cause a copy
of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee
of the Village of Sleepy Hollow within 30 days after the effective
date of this chapter. Each officer and employee elected or appointed
thereafter shall be furnished a copy before entering upon the duties
of his office or employment. Failure to distribute any such copy shall
have no effect on the duty of compliance with this article, nor with
the enforcement of the provisions thereof.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision
of law, any person who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any
of the provisions of this chapter may be fined, suspended or removed
from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided
by law.