The Town Board of the Town of Highlands recognizes that there are 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. It is the purpose of this chapter to implement this objective
through the establishment of standards of conduct, to provide for punishment
of violations of such standards and to create a Board of Ethics to render
advisory opinions to the town's officers and employees as provided for
herein.
The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein are
in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions or procedures
prescribed by statutes of the State of New York and also in addition to common
law rules and judicial decisions relating to the conduct of town officers
and employees.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
The town employee's spouse, father, mother, brother, sister,
child, grandchild and their respective spouses.
TOWN
Includes any board, commission, district, council or other agency,
department or unit of the town.
TOWN EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town of Highlands, whether paid or
unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity and
whether elected or appointed, and including members of all boards, commissions
and districts and all employees thereof.
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.
In addition to the penalty set forth in § 805 of the General
Municipal 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.
With 10 days of his appointment or within 10 days of taking office and
on or before the 10th day of January of each year thereafter while holding
such office or appointment, every town employee shall submit to the town clerk
a sworn statement on the form provided containing the following information:
A. All real property in the Town of Highlands in which he
and members of his immediate family has an interest either individually or
as a member of a partnership or corporation; the nature and extent of such
interest, with whom such interest is shared and the location of such real
property by street address and tax lot designation.
B. Any business enterprise in which he and his immediate
family has an interest which does business with the town or is likely to do
business with the town (providing goods, labor or services) including the
name and location of such business enterprise; the nature of the goods, labor
and services provided and the total sum of money received by such business
enterprise from the town during the 12 preceding months.