Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Board of Trustees 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. These rules
shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees
of the Village. The rules of ethical conduct of this chapter 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
contract of municipal officers and employees.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village, 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.
INTEREST
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer
or employee, directly or indirectly.
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 any agency. He shall not receive, or enter
into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services
to be rendered by him in relation to any matter before any municipal
agency of his municipality.
D. 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, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in a 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.
E. Disclosure of interest in a matter before any municipal agency. To
the extent that he knows thereof, any Village officer or employee,
whether paid or unpaid, who has an interest in any matter that is
before any agency of the Village, shall publicly disclose on the official
record the nature and extent of such interest, whether direct or indirect.
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 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, or any agency
thereof on behalf of himself or any member of his family arising out
of any personal injury or property damage for any lawful benefit authorized
or permitted by law.
The Mayor of the Village shall cause a copy of this Code of
Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Village
within 10 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.
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.