Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal
Law, the Board of Trustees of Pulaski 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 chapter
to promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees
of the Village of Pulaski. These rules shall serve as a guide for official
conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Pulaski. The rules
of ethical conduct of this chapter 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 chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
INTEREST
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 article a
municipal officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract
of:
A.
His spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment
with the municipality which such officer or employee serves;
B.
A firm, partnership or association of which such officer or employee
is a member or employee;
C.
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director
or employee; and
D.
A corporation any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or
indirectly by such officer or employee.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village of Pulaski, 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 fire chief or assistant fire chief.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Pulaski shall be subject
to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. Gifts. He shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit
any gift having a value of $75 or more, whether in the form of money, services,
loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, 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 paragraph 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 Pulaski, 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 Pulaski 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 Pulaski, 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 Mayor of the Village of Pulaski shall cause a copy of this Code
of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Village within
30 days after the effective date of this chapter. Each officer and employee
elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished a copy before entering
upon the duties of his office or employment. 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.
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.