[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Brewster 12-19-1990 by L.L. No. 1-1990 (Ch. 20 of the 1992 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Officers and employees — See Ch. 29.
Personnel policies — See Ch. 36.
A. 
As provided by law, the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees recognizes that there are rules of ethical conduct for public officers and employees that must be observed if a high degree of moral conduct is to be obtained and if public confidence is to be maintained in the government of the Village of Brewster. It is the purpose of this policy to promulgate rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees of the Village of Brewster. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Brewster, Brewster, New York.
B. 
The rules of ethical conduct of this policy 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 contrast of municipal officers and employees.
As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings indicated:
CONTRACT
Any claim, account or demand against or agreement with the Village of Brewster, expressed or implied, and shall include the designation of a depository of public funds and the designation of a newspaper, including but not limited to an official newspaper, for the publication of any notice, resolution, ordinance or other proceeding where such publication is required or authorized by law.
INTEREST
A direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a officer or employee of the Village of Brewster as the result of a contract with the Village of Brewster. 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 Village of Brewster where such officer or employee serves.
B. 
A firm, partnership or association of which such officer is a member or employee.
C. 
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director or employee.
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 Brewster, 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.[1]
TREASURER
The Treasurer of the Village of Brewster.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Every officer or employee of the Village of Brewster shall be subject to and abide by the following standards:
A. 
Gifts. He/she shall not directly or indirectly solicit any gifts or accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 or more, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise or in any other form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended to influence him/her or could reasonably be expected to influence him/her in the performance of his/her official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his/her part.
B. 
Confidential information. He/she shall not disclose confidential information acquired by him/her in the course of his/her official duties or use such information to further his/her personal interest.
C. 
Representation before agency. He/she shall not receive or enter into any agreement, expressed or implied, for compensation for services being rendered in relation to any matter before any municipal agency of which he/she is an officer, member or employee or of any municipal agency over which he/she has jurisdiction or to which he/she has the power to appoint any member, officer or employee.
D. 
Representation before agency for a contingency fee. He/she shall not receive or enter into any agreement, expressed or implied, for compensation of services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any agency of his/her municipality whereby his/her compensation is to be dependent or contingent upon any action by such agency with respect to such matter, provided that this provision shall not prohibit the fixing at any time of fees based upon the reasonable value of the services rendered.
E. 
Disclosure of interest before the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees. To the extent that he/she knows thereof, any officer or employee of the Village of Brewster, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees on any matter before it shall publicly disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or other private interest he/she has in such matters.
F. 
Investments and conflicts with official duties. He/she shall not invest or hold any investment directly or indirectly in any financial, business, commercial or any private transaction that creates a conflict with his/her official duties.
G. 
Private employment. He/she shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept private employment or render services for private interest when that employment or service creates a conflict with or impairs the proper discharge of his/her official duties.
H. 
Future employment. He/she shall not, after the termination of service or employment with the Village of Brewster, appear before the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees or any board or committee of the Village of Brewster Board of Trustees in relation to any case, proceeding or application in which he/she personally participated during the period of his/her service or employment or that was under his/her active consideration.
[Amended 5-20-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992]
The Mayor of the Village of Brewster shall cause a copy of this policy to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Village. 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 policy nor the enforcement of the 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 or removed from his office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.