[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Clarkstown 12-15-2016 by L.L. No. 14-2016.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 18, Code of Ethics, adopted 10-10-1989 by L.L. No. 6-1989 (Ch. 9 of the 1974 Code), as amended.
This chapter a local law amends Chapter 18, Code of Ethics, of the Code of the Town of Clarkstown.
It is the intent of this chapter to adopt a Code of Ethics which sets forth standards of conduct for the guidance of the officers and employees of the Town of Clarkstown with respect to disclosure of interests in legislation before the local governing body, holding of investments in conflict with official duties, private employment in conflict with official duties, future employment, and such other standards as may be deemed advisable.
This chapter is adopted pursuant to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law which prohibits the officers and employees of a municipality from having certain conflicts of interest. Section 806 of the General Municipal Law requires the governing body of each county, city (other than the City of New York), town, village, school district and fire district to adopt a Code of Ethics that sets forth for the guidance of its officers and employees standards of conduct reasonably expected of them, and § 806 of the General Municipal Law also authorizes the governing body of any other municipality to adopt such a Code of Ethics.
Officers and employees of the Town of Clarkstown hold their positions to serve and benefit the public, and not for obtaining unwarranted personal or private gain in the exercise and performance of their official powers and duties. The Town Board of Clarkstown recognizes that, in furtherance of this fundamental principle, there is a need for clear and reasonable standards of ethical conduct. This Code of Ethics establishes those standards.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOARD
The governing board of a municipality and any municipal administrative board (e.g., planning board, zoning board of appeals), commission, or other agency or body comprised of two or more municipal officers or employees.
CODE
This Code of Ethics.
INTEREST
A direct or indirect financial or material benefit, but does not include any benefit arising from the provision or receipt of any services generally available to the residents or taxpayers of the municipality or an area of the municipality, or a lawful class of such residents or taxpayers. A municipal officer or employee is deemed to have an interest in any private organization when he or she, his or her spouse, or a member of his or her household is an owner, partner, member, director, officer, employee, or directly or indirectly owns or controls more than 5% of the organization's outstanding stock.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
A paid or unpaid officer or employee of the Town of Clarkstown, including, but not limited to, the members of any municipal board.
MUNICIPALITY
The Town of Clarkstown. The word "municipal" refers to the municipality.
RELATIVE
A spouse, parent, step-parent, sibling, stepsibling, sibling's spouse, child, step-child, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin, or household member of a municipal officer or employee, and individuals having any of these relationships to the spouse of the officer or employee.
This Code of Ethics applies to the officers and employees of the Town of Clarkstown, and shall supersede any prior municipal Code of Ethics. The provisions of this Code of Ethics shall apply in addition to all applicable state and local laws relating to conflicts of interest and ethics, including, but not limited to, Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and all rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the Town of Clarkstown.
No municipal officer or employee shall use his or her municipal position or official powers and duties to secure a financial or material benefit for himself or herself, a relative, or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest.
A. 
Whenever a matter requiring the exercise of discretion comes before a municipal officer or employee, either individually or as a member of a board, and disposition of the matter could result in a direct or indirect financial or material benefit to himself or herself, a relative, or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest, the municipal officer or employee shall disclose, in writing, the nature of the interest.
B. 
The disclosure shall be made when the matter requiring disclosure first comes before the municipal officer or employee, or when the municipal officer or employee first acquires knowledge of the interest requiring disclosure, whichever is earlier.
C. 
In the case of a person serving in an elective office, the disclosure shall be filed with the governing board of the municipality. In all other cases, the disclosure shall be filed with the person's supervisor or, if the person does not have a supervisor, the disclosure shall be filed with the municipal officer, employee or board having the power to appoint to the person's position. In addition, in the case of a person serving on a municipal board, a copy of the disclosure shall be filed with the board. Any disclosure made to a board shall be made publicly at a meeting of the board and must be included in the minutes of the meeting.
A. 
No municipal officer or employee may participate in any decision or take any official action with respect to any matter requiring the exercise of discretion, including discussing the matter and voting on it, when he or she knows or has reason to know that the action could confer a direct or indirect financial or material benefit on himself or herself, a relative, or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest.
B. 
In the event that this section prohibits a municipal officer or employee from exercising or performing a power or duty:
(1) 
If the power or duty is vested in a municipal officer as a member of a board, then the power or duty shall be exercised or performed by the other members of the board; or
(2) 
If the power or duty is vested in a municipal officer individually, then the power or duty shall be exercised or performed by his or her deputy or, if the officer does not have a deputy, the power or duty shall be performed by another person to whom the officer may lawfully delegate the function.
(3) 
If the power or duty is vested in a municipal employee, he or she must refer the matter to his or her immediate supervisor, and the immediate supervisor shall designate another person to exercise or perform the power or duty.
A. 
This code's prohibition on use of a municipal position (§ 18-7), disclosure requirements (§ 18-8), and requirements relating to recusal and abstention (§ 18-9), shall not apply with respect to the following matters:
(1) 
Adoption of the municipality's annual budget.
(2) 
Any matter requiring the exercise of discretion that directly affects any of the following groups of people or a lawful class of such groups:
(a) 
All municipal officers or employees;
(b) 
All residents or taxpayers of the municipality or an area of the municipality; or
(c) 
The general public.
(3) 
Any matter that does not require the exercise of discretion.
B. 
Recusal and abstention shall not be required with respect to any matter:
(1) 
Which comes before a board when a majority of the board's total membership would otherwise be prohibited from acting by § 18-9 of this code;
(2) 
Which comes before a municipal officer when the officer would be prohibited from acting by § 18-9 of this code and the matter cannot be lawfully delegated to another person.
A. 
No municipal officer or employee may acquire the following investments:
(1) 
Investments that can be reasonably expected to require more than sporadic recusal and abstention under § 18-9 of this code; or
(2) 
Investments that would otherwise impair the person's independence of judgment in the exercise or performance of his or her official powers and duties.
B. 
This section does not prohibit a municipal officer or employee from acquiring any other investments or the following assets:
(1) 
Real property located within the municipality and used as his or her personal residence;
(2) 
Less than 5% of the stock of a publicly traded corporation; or
(3) 
Bonds or notes issued by the municipality and acquired more than one year after the date on which the bonds or notes were originally issued.
No municipal officer or employee, during his or her tenure as a municipal officer or employee, may engage in any private employment, including the rendition of any business, commercial, professional or other types of services, when the employment:
A. 
Can be reasonably expected to require more than sporadic recusal and abstention pursuant to § 18-9 of this code;
B. 
Can be reasonably expected to require disclosure or use of confidential information gained by reason of serving as a municipal officer or employee;
C. 
Violates § 805-a(1)(c) or (d) of the General Municipal Law; or
D. 
Requires representation of a person or organization other than the municipality in connection with litigation, negotiations or any other matter to which the municipality is a party.
A. 
No municipal officer or employee may ask for, pursue or accept a private post-government employment opportunity with any person or organization that has a matter requiring the exercise of discretion pending before the municipal officer or employee, either individually or as a member of a board, while the matter is pending or within the 30 days following final disposition of the matter.
B. 
No former elected official or former Town employee shall directly or indirectly appear, render services or have any business transaction before any board concerning a matter in which he or she was personally involved for two years after termination of his or her service of employment.
This code shall not be construed as prohibiting a municipal officer or employee from:
A. 
Representing himself or herself, or his or her spouse or minor children, before the municipality; or
B. 
Asserting a claim against the municipality on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of his or her spouse or minor children.
A. 
Municipal resources shall be used for lawful municipal purposes. Municipal resources include, but are not limited to, municipal personnel, and the municipality's money, vehicles, equipment, materials, supplies or other property.
B. 
No municipal officer or employee may use or permit the use of municipal resources for personal or private purposes, but this provision shall not be construed as prohibiting:
(1) 
Any use of municipal resources authorized by law or municipal policy;
(2) 
The use of municipal resources for personal or private purposes when provided to a municipal officer or employee as part of his or her compensation; or
(3) 
The occasional and incidental use during the business day of municipal telephones and computers for necessary personal matters such as family care and changes in work schedule.
C. 
No municipal officer or employee shall cause the municipality to spend more than is reasonably necessary for transportation, meals or lodging in connection with official travel.
A. 
No municipal officer or employee may have an interest in a contract that is prohibited by § 801 of the General Municipal Law.
B. 
Every municipal officer and employee shall disclose interests in contracts with the municipality at the time and in the manner required by § 803 of the General Municipal Law.
Except as otherwise required by law:
A. 
No municipal officer or employee, either individually or as a member of a board, may participate in any decision specifically to appoint, hire, promote, discipline or discharge a relative for any position at, for or within the municipality or a municipal board.
B. 
No municipal officer or employee may supervise a relative in the performance of the relative's official powers or duties.
A. 
No municipal officer or employee shall directly or indirectly compel or induce a subordinate municipal officer or employee to make, or promise to make, any political contribution, whether by gift of money, service or other thing of value.
B. 
No municipal officer or employee may act or decline to act in relation to appointing, hiring or promoting, discharging, disciplining, or in any manner changing the official rank, status or compensation of any municipal officer or employee, or an applicant for a position as a municipal officer or employee, on the basis of the giving or withholding or neglecting to make any contribution of money or service or any other valuable thing for any political purpose.
No municipal officer or employee who acquires confidential information in the course of exercising or performing his or her official powers or duties may disclose or use such information unless the disclosure or use is required by law or in the course of exercising or performing his or her official powers and duties.
A. 
No municipal officer or employee shall solicit, accept or receive a gift in violation of § 805-a(1)(a) of the General Municipal Law as interpreted in this section.
B. 
No municipal officer or employee may directly or indirectly solicit any gift.
C. 
No municipal officer or employee may accept or receive any gift, or multiple gifts from the same donor, having an annual aggregate value of $75 or more when:
(1) 
The gift reasonably appears to be intended to influence the officer or employee in the exercise or performance of his or her official powers or duties;
(2) 
The gift could reasonably be expected to influence the officer or employee in the exercise or performance of his or her official powers or duties; or
(3) 
The gift is intended as a reward for any official action on the part of the officer or employee.
D. 
For purposes of this section, a "gift" includes anything of value, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or in any other form. The value of a gift is the gift's fair market value, determined by the retail cost of the item or a comparable item. The fair market value of a ticket entitling the holder to food, refreshments, entertainment, or any other benefit is the face value of the ticket, or the actual cost to the donor, whichever is greater. Determination of whether multiple gifts from a single donor exceed $75 must be made by adding together the value of all gifts received from the donor by an officer or employee during the twelve-month period preceding the receipt of the most recent gift.
E. 
A gift to a municipal officer or employee is presumed to be intended to influence the exercise or performance of his or her official powers or duties when the gift is from a private person or organization that seeks municipal action involving the exercise of discretion by or with the participation of the officer or employee.
F. 
A gift to a municipal officer or employee is presumed to be intended as a reward for official action when the gift is from a private person or organization that has obtained municipal action involving the exercise of discretion by or with the participation of the officer or employee during the preceding 12 months.
G. 
This section does not prohibit any other gift, including:
(1) 
Gifts made to the municipality;
(2) 
Gifts from a person with a family or personal relationship with the officer or employee when the circumstances make it clear that the personal relationship, rather than the recipient's status as a municipal officer or employee, is the primary motivating factor for the gift;
(3) 
Gifts given on special occasions, such as marriage, illness, or retirement, which are modest, reasonable and customary;
(4) 
Unsolicited advertising or promotional material of little intrinsic value, such as pens, pencils, note pads, and calendars;
(5) 
Awards and plaques having a value of $75 or less which are publicly presented in recognition of service as a municipal officer or employee, or other service to the community; or
(6) 
Meals and refreshments provided when a municipal officer or employee is a speaker or participant at a job-related professional or educational conference or program and the meals and refreshments are made available to all participants.
Each elected official and Town employee shall be barred from videotaping and/or audiotaping any individual or proceeding involving Town business without the consent of each of the individuals who are being video- and/or audiotaped. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any individual who is acting as agent or under the direction or on behalf of law enforcement, whether local, state or federal, is permitted to video- and/or audiotape if such conduct is at the law enforcement agency's direction.
A. 
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics for the municipality. The Board of Ethics shall consist of five members, a majority of whom shall not be officers or employees of the municipality. The members of such Board of Ethics shall be appointed by the Town Board, serve for a period of five years, and receive no salary or compensation for their services as members of the Board of Ethics.
B. 
The Board of Ethics shall render advisory opinions to the officers and employees of the Town of Clarkstown with respect to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and this code, receive and investigate sworn complaints alleging a violation of this chapter, and administer the financial disclosure required of certain Town officers and employees. The Board may administer oaths or affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance and require the production of any books or records that it may deem relevant or material. In addition, the Board of Ethics may make recommendations with respect to the drafting and adoption of a Code of Ethics, or amendments thereto, upon the request of the Town of Clarkstown.
[Amended 5-28-2019 by L.L. No. 7-2019]
C. 
The Board of Ethics may adopt rules and regulations as it deems necessary to effectively implement its duties. The board shall have the advice of legal counsel employed by the board, or if none, the municipality's legal counsel.
D. 
The Board of Ethics shall meet as needed, and shall report annually to the Town Board at a public meeting of the Town Board.
A. 
The Town Supervisor must promptly cause a copy of this code, and a copy of any amendment to this code, to be posted publicly and conspicuously in each building under the municipality's control. The code must be posted within 10 days following the date on which the code takes effect. An amendment to the code must be posted within 10 days following the date on which the amendment takes effect.
B. 
The Town Supervisor must promptly cause a copy of this code, including any amendments to the code, to be distributed to every person who is or becomes an officer and employee of the Town of Clarkstown.
C. 
Every municipal officer or employee who receives a copy of this code or an amendment to the code must acknowledge such receipt in writing. Such acknowledgments must be filed with the Town Clerk who must maintain such acknowledgments as a public record.
D. 
The failure to post this code or an amendment to the code does not affect either the applicability or enforceability of the code or the amendment. The failure of a municipal officer or employee to receive a copy of this Code of Ethics or an amendment to the code, or to acknowledge receipt thereof in writing, does not affect either the applicability or enforceability of the code or amendment to the code.
A. 
Every individual serving in the positions set forth in Appendix I[1] shall file the annual statement of financial disclosure set forth in Appendix II.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix II is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
Such statement of financial disclosure shall be filed with the Board of Ethics on or before May 15 of each year with respect to the preceding calendar year. Any person required to file a financial disclosure statement who commences employment after April 15 of any year shall file such statement within 30 days after commencing employment.
C. 
Upon written request, the Board of Ethics may grant an extension of time for filing of the financial disclosure statement due to justifiable cause or undue hardship.
D. 
Completed annual statements of financial disclosure shall be available for public inspection.
A. 
Any municipal officer or employee who violates this code may be censured, fined, suspended or removed from office or employment in the manner provided by law.
B. 
Any municipal officer or employee who violates any of the provisions of this chapter may be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, with assessment of the civil penalty to be made by the Board of Ethics.
C. 
In addition, any municipal officer or employee who violates any of the provisions of this chapter may be referred for appropriate prosecution of a Class A misdemeanor as that term is defined in the New York State Penal Law.
[Amended 4-10-2018 by L.L. No. 3-2018]
D. 
Any person who induces any elected official or Town employee to take any action or refrain from taking any action which is in violation of this chapter may be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor as that term is defined in the New York State Penal Law and may be barred from doing business with the Town for a period of five years from the date of conviction.