[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Russell Gardens 11-23-1970 by resolution. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, 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.
OFFICER or EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village of Russell Gardens, paid or unpaid, including members of any administrative or zoning board, commission or other agency and any building commissioner or building inspector.[1] 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: For additional provisions pertaining to conflicts of Interest on the part of a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Building Inspector, see respectively Ch. A85, Zoning Board of Appeals: Rules and Regulations, § A85.4, and Ch. 12. Building Construction. § 12-4.
Every officer or employee of the village 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, 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 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 Village Board and any officer or employee of the Village of Russell Gardens, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion or gives an official opinion to the Village Board on any legislation before the Village Board 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, or shall disclose such interest in writing as soon as practicable.
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, for a period of two years after the termination of service or employment with such municipality, appear before any board or agency of the village 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. After the said two years, such future employment shall be undertaken only after full disclosure, in writing or upon the official village record, of his financial interest, direct or indirect, in the particular matter in which he appears before any village board or agency and the relationship of such matter to any prior matter he participated in while in the employ or service of the village.
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 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 Clerk of the Village of Russell Gardens 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 code, together with a copy of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law in the form issued by the New York State Department of Audit and Control. Each officer and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished copies of this code and Article 18 of the General Municipal Law before entering upon the duties of his office or employment.
In addition to the penalties provided in Article 18 of the General Municipal Law, any person who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions of this code may be suspended or removed from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.