The Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson has heretofore
recognized the increasing litigation exposure faced by public employees and
officers and conferred the defense and indemnification benefits contained
in § 18 of the Public Officers Law on the village's public officials
and employees by resolution. The Board of Trustees wishes to reaffirm and
codify that action and to provide additional indemnification and defense protection
pursuant to law.
The full benefits of § 18 of the Public Officers Law shall apply to public officials and employees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, and the Village of Croton-on-Hudson shall be held liable for the costs incurred under the provisions of that section, as well as the costs incurred under §
61-3 of this chapter.
The village will provide for the defense of any village officer or employee
in any civil action or proceeding arising out of any alleged act or omission
in which it is alleged that the officer or employee has violated the civil
rights of the claimant, petitioner or plaintiff under §§ 1981
and 1983 of the U.S. Civil Rights Act. The village shall indemnify and save
harmless such officer or employee in the amount of any judgment or settlement
of claim obtained against such officer or employee, including punitive and
exemplary damages. Such legal defense and indemnification shall be provided
only where the officer or employee at the time of such alleged act or omission
was acting in good faith and within the scope of his public employment, powers
or duties. The provisions of this section shall be in addition to any other
statute, local law or enactment providing legal defense and indemnification
in civil actions brought against such officer or employee.