It was found and declared that:
A. The City of Port Jervis has always adhered to the long-standing
public policy of indemnifying and saving harmless from financial loss its
officers and employees for the exercise or performance or in good faith purporting
to exercise or perform their powers and duties.
B. This long-standing public policy is necessary to enable
public officers and employees of the City to conscientiously and thoroughly
perform their powers and duties to the fullest extent.
C. The State of New York has also adopted this public policy
of indemnification and saving harmless from financial loss its officers and
employees.
D. The City of Port Jervis, through the provisions hereinafter
set forth, seeks to codify its long-standing policy as mentioned above while
keeping in harmony with the statutory philosophy espoused by the State of
New York by conferring upon its officers and employees all of the benefits
of § 18 of the Public Officers Law.
E. The City of Port Jervis wishes to confirm its ongoing
confidence in the City officers and employers in carrying out their respective
responsibilities and duties in good faith and in the best interest of the
City, and to ensure that City officers and employees acting within the scope
of their employment shall be fully defended and indemnified by the City against
claims brought against them by enacting defense and indemnification benefits
in supplement to those provided under § 18 of the Public Officers
Law.
The full benefits of § 18 of the Public Officers Law of the
State of New York are hereby conferred upon all of the officers and employees
of the City of Port Jervis, and the City of Port Jervis shall be liable for
all of the costs incurred under that section, as well as the
costs incurred under the following section hereof.