Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Village Board of the Village of Walton 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 Walton. These rules shall serve as a guide for official
conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Walton. The
rules of ethical conduct of this chapter, 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 or municipal officers
and employees.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
INTEREST
A direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing
to a municipal officer or employee as the result of a contract with
the municipality which such officer or employee serves. For the purposes
of this article, 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 municipality which such officer or employee
serves;
B.
A firm, partnership or association of which such officer or
employee is a member or employee;
C.
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer,
director or employee; and
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 Walton, 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 firefighter
or civil defense volunteer, except a fire chief or assistant fire
chief.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Walton shall be
subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. Gifts. He 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, 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.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
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 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 paragraph 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 Village Board and any officer or employee
of the Village of Walton, whether paid or unpaid, who participates
in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Village Board on
any legislation before the Village Board 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 termination of service or
employment with such municipality, appear before any board or agency
of the Village of Walton 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 Walton, 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 at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
The Mayor of the Village of Walton shall cause a copy of this
Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of
the Village of Walton 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. 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 code 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 Code may be fined, suspended or removed
from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided
by law.