[Adopted 11-2-1970 (Ch. 6, Art. I, of the 1985 Code)]
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Fort Edward
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 article to
promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees
of the Village of Fort Edward. These rules shall serve as a guide
for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Village
of Fort Edward.
The rules of ethical conduct of this article, as 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 contracts of municipal
officers and employees.
As used in this article, 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.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village of Fort Edward, 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 Fort Edward 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
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 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 Board of Trustees and any officer or employee
of the Village of Fort Edward, 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 Fort Edward 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 Fort Edward
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.
[Amended 4-7-1986 by L.L. No. 1-1986]
The Mayor of the Village of Fort Edward shall cause a copy of
this article to be distributed to every officer and employee of the
Village within 10 days after the effective date of this article. Each
officer and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished
a copy before entering upon the duties of his office or employment.
However, 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 article nor the enforcement of 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 article may be fined, suspended or removed
from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided
by law.
[Adopted 11-2-1970 (Ch. 6, Art. II, of the 1985 Code)]
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of
three members to be appointed by the Board of Trustees and so 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 Fort Edward but shall include at least
one member who is an elected or appointed officer or employee of the
Village of Fort Edward.
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 Fort Edward
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 a code of ethics or amendments
thereto upon request of the Board of Trustees.