[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Wheatland 10-1-1970 by L.L. No. 3-1970 (Ch. 30 of the 1980 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Board of the Town of Wheatland recognizes that there are state statutory provisions mandating towns 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 Town 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 and to provide for punishment of violation of such standards.
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 town 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:
TOWN
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department or unit of the government of the Town of Wheatland.
TOWN EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town of Wheatland, whether paid or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
No town 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. 
No town employee shall accept other employment which will impair his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
B. 
No town 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. 
No town employee shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others.
D. 
No town employee shall engage in any transaction as representative or agent of the town 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. 
A town employee shall not by his conduct give reasonable basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence him 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. 
Each town 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. 
Each town 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. 
No town employee employed on a full-time basis or any firm or association of which such employee is a member or 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 town in which such employee serves or is employed.
I. 
Each Town employee shall, to the extent that he/she is cognizant thereof, disclose any interest he/she may have in legislation before the Town Board.
[Added 2-1-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
J. 
No Town employee, within two years after the termination of his service or employment with the Town, shall accept employment which will involve contracts with the Town which can work to his/her special advantage by virtue of his/her prior contact and relationship with the Town.
[Added 2-1-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
K. 
No Town employee shall 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, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise or in 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/her in the performance of his/her official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his/her part.
[Added 2-1-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any town 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.
[Added 2-1-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
The Supervisor shall cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Town. 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 of provisions thereof.