Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Liberty 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 local law to promulgate
these rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees of the
Village of Liberty. These rules shall serve as a guide for official
conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Liberty. The
rules of ethical conduct of this local law as adopted 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 local law, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
INTEREST
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer
or employee, unless the context otherwise requires.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village of Liberty, 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 chief engineer or assistant chief
engineer.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Liberty shall be
subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. Gifts. He shall not directly or indirectly solicit any gift or accept
or receive any gift having a value of $25 or more, whether in the
form of money, services, a loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality,
a thing or promise or 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, 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 has 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 Liberty, 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 Liberty 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 Liberty 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.
The Village Manager of the Village of Liberty shall cause a
copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and
employee of the Village within five days after the effective date
of this local law. Each officer and employee elected or appointed
thereafter shall be furnished a copy before entering upon the duties
of his office or employment. If the office of Village Manager is vacant,
the Clerk of the Village of Liberty shall carry out the provisions
of this section.
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 may be fined, suspended or removed
from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided
by law.
This local law shall take effect 20 days after it is filed as
provided in § 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.