Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal
Law, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Great Neck Estates 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 Great Neck Estates. These
rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees
of the Village of Great Neck Estates. The rules of ethical conduct set forth
in this chapter 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.
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. For the purposes of this chapter, a
municipal officer or employee shall be deemed to have an "interest" in the
contract of:
A.
His spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment
with the municipality which such officer or employee serves.
B.
A firm, partnership or association of which such officer or employee
is a member or employee.
C.
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director
or employee.
D.
A corporation, any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or
indirectly by such officer or employee.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village of Great Neck Estates 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 fireman or civil defense
volunteer, except a fire chief or assistant fire chief.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Great Neck Estates shall
be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. Gifts. He shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit
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 in the performance of his official duties or
was intended as a reward for any official action on his part.
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, express or implied, for 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 of any municipal agency
over which he had 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, express or implied, for
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 Great Neck Estates, whether paid or unpaid, 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.
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.
H. Future employment. He shall not, after the termination
of service or employment with such municipality, appear before any board or
agency of the Village of Great Neck Estates in relation to any case, proceeding
or application in which he personally participated during the period of his
service or employment or which was under his active consideration.
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 Village of Great Neck Estates 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. 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 provisions thereof.
The Mayor of the Village of Great Neck Estates shall cause a copy of
this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the
Village of Great Neck Estates within 10 days after the effective date of this
chapter. Each officer and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be
furnished with a copy before entering upon the duties of his office or employment.
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 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 Code of Ethics may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment,
as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.