[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cazenovia 12-23-1970.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Village Board of the Village of Cazenovia recognizes that there
are state statutory provisions mandating villages 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 Village 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, to provide for punishment
of violation of such standards and to create a Board of Ethics to render advisory
opinions to the Village's officers and employees as provided for herein.
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 Village 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:
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:
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.
A corporation, any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or
indirectly by such officer or employee.
An officer or employee of the Village of Cazenovia, 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,
except a Fire Chief or Assistant Fire Chief.[2]
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department
or unit of the government of the Village of Cazenovia.
Any officer or employee of the Village of Cazenovia, whether paid
or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
No Village 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.
A.Â
No Village employee shall accept other employment which
will impair his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
B.Â
No Village employee shall accept employment or engage
in any business or professional activity which will require him to disclose
confidential information which he has gained by reason of his official position
or authority.
C.Â
No Village employee shall use or attempt to use his official
position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others.
D.Â
No Village employee shall engage in any transaction as
representative or agent of the Village with any business entity in which he
has a direct or indirect financial interest that might reasonably tend to
conflict with the proper discharge of his official duties.
E.Â
A Village employee shall not by his conduct give reasonable
basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence his or unduly
enjoy his favor in the performance of his official duties, or that he is affected
by the kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person.
F.Â
Each Village employee shall abstain from making personal
investments in enterprises which he has reason to believe may be directly
involved in decisions to be made by him or which will otherwise create substantial
conflict between his duty in the public interest and his private interest.
G.Â
Each Village employee shall endeavor to pursue a course
of conduct which will not raise suspicion among the public that he is likely
to be engaged in acts that are in violation of his trust.
H.Â
No Village employee employed on a full-time basis nor
any firm or association of which such employee is a member nor corporation
a substantial portion of the stock of which is owned or controlled directly
or indirectly by such employee, shall sell goods or services to any person,
firm, corporation or association which is licensed or whose rates are fixed
by the Village in which such employee serves or is employed.
I.Â
Each Village employee shall, to the extent that he is
cognizant thereof, disclose any interest he may have in legislation before
the Village Board.
J.Â
No Village employee within two years after the termination
of his service or employment with the Village shall accept employment which
will involve contacts with the Village which can work to his special advantage
by virtue of his prior contact and relationship with the Village.
In addition to any penalty contained in any provisions of law, any such
Village 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.
A.Â
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting
of three members to be appointed by the Village Board, all of whom reside
in the Village of Cazenovia and who shall serve without compensation and at
the pleasure of the Village Board of the Village of Cazenovia. A majority
of such members shall be persons other than Village employees but shall include
at least one member who is an elected or an appointed Village employee of
the Village of Cazenovia.
B.Â
The Board of Ethics established hereunder shall render
advisory opinions to Village employees on written request of the Village Board
and make recommendations to such Village Board as to any amendments to this
chapter. The opinions of the Board of Ethics shall be advisory and confidential
and in no event shall the identity of the Village employee be disclosed except
to authorized persons and agencies. Such opinions shall be on the advice of
counsel employed by the Board of Ethics, or, if none, of the Village attorney.
Such Board of Ethics, upon its formation, shall promulgate its own rules
and regulations as to its form and procedures and shall maintain appropriate
records of its opinions and proceedings.
Upon the adoption of this chapter, the Village Mayor shall cause a copy
thereof to be distributed to every Village employee of this Village. Failure
to distribute any such copy or failure of any Village employee to receive
such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this Code, nor
the enforcement of provisions thereof. The Village Mayor shall further cause
a copy of this chapter to be kept posted conspicuously in each public building
under the jurisdiction of the Village. Failure to so post this chapter shall
have no effect on the duty of compliance herewith, or the enforcement provisions
thereof.
Within 30 days of the adoption of this chapter, the Village Clerk shall
file a copy thereof in the office of the State Comptroller.
The Village Board may appropriate moneys from the general Village funds
for the maintenance of and for personnel services to the Board of Ethics established
hereunder, but such Board of Ethics may not commit the expenditure of Village
moneys except with the appropriations provided herein.
