[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Centre Island 4-5-1976 by L.L. No. 1-1976 as Art. 15 of the 1976
Municipal Code. Sections 11-1B, 11-3A and 11-5A amended at time of
adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal
Law, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Centre Island 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 Centre Island.
B.
These rules shall serve as a guide for the official conduct of the
officers and employees of the Village of Centre Island. The rules
of ethical conduct of this chapter, as adopted and amended, 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.[1]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer
or employee or the spouse, minor children or dependents of such municipal
officer or employee.
An officer or employee of the Village of Centre Island, 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 Chief Engineer or Assistant Chief
Engineer.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Centre Island 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, whether in the form of money, services,
loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise or any
other form, under circumstances in which it could be reasonably inferred
that the gift was intended to influence him in the performance of
his official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action
on his part.[1]
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, any officer or employee of the Village of Centre Island,
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 Centre Island 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 Centre Island
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.
A.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of five
members to be appointed by the Board of Trustees and who shall serve
without compensation and at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees.
A majority of such members shall be persons other than officers or
employees of the Village of Centre Island.[1]
B.
The Board of Ethics shall have the powers and duties prescribed by
Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and shall render advisory
opinions to the officers and employees of the Village of Centre Island
with respect to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and any code
of ethics adopted pursuant to such Article, under such rules and regulations
as the Board may prescribe. In addition, the Board may make recommendations
with respect to the drafting and adoption of amendments to this Code
of Ethics upon request of the Board of Trustees.
The Mayor of the Village of Centre Island 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.
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.
