This chapter shall be known as the "Ethics and Disclosure Law
of the Town of Saugerties."
Unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires,
the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the
meanings herein indicated:
APPEAR and APPEAR BEFORE
Communicating in any form, including, without limitation,
personally, through another person, by letter, or by telephone or
by other electronic means.
CONTRACTUAL GOODS/SERVICES
Any work performed or goods delivered by the Town officer
to another person under mutual agreement of the two parties and provided
the transaction has been finalized, without dispute, by the two parties.
Retail sales shall be excluded from this provision.
CUSTOMER or CLIENT
Any person for whom a Town officer or employee has directly
supplied contractual goods/services during the previous 24 months.
Retail sales shall be excluded from this provision.
ETHICS BOARD
The Ethics Board of the Town of Saugerties established pursuant to §
22-8 of this chapter.
GIFT AND FINANCIAL BENEFIT
Includes any money, service, license, permit, contract, authorization,
loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, or any promise thereof,
or any other gratuity or promise thereof or anything of value. A financial
transaction may be a financial benefit but shall not be a gift unless
it is on terms not available to the general public. Gift and financial
benefit do not include campaign contributions authorized by law.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER
A spouse, significant other, child or stepchild, grandchild,
person claimed as a dependent on the Town officer(s') or employee(s')
latest individual state income tax return, parents or siblings.
[Amended 3-4-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020]
OUTSIDE EMPLOYER OR BUSINESS
A.
Any activity, other than service to the Town, from which the
Town officer or employee receives compensation for services rendered
or goods sold or produced;
B.
Any entity, other than the Town, of which the Town officer or
employee is a member, officer, director, or employee and from which
he/she receives compensation for services rendered or goods sold or
produced; or
C.
Any entity in which the Town officer or employee has an ownership
interest, except a corporation of which the Town officer or employee
owns less than 5% of the outstanding stock. For purposes of this definition,
"compensation" shall not include reimbursement for necessary expenses,
including travel expenses.
PERSON
Both individuals and entities.
SIGNIFICANT OTHER
An individual of the opposite or same sex living in shared
quarters for the purpose of constituting a family unit.
SUBORDINATE OF A TOWN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
Another Town officer or employee over whose activities he/she
has direction, supervision or control, except those who serve in positions
that are in the exempt classification under § 41 of the
Civil Service Law of the State of New York or in the unclassified
service under subdivisions (a) through (f) of § 35 of that
law.
TOWN
The Town of Saugerties, but shall not include the Town Justice
Court.
TOWN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town, whether paid or unpaid,
and includes, without limitation, all members of any office, board,
body, advisory board, council, commission, agency, department, district,
administration, division, bureau, or committee of the Town. "Town
officer or employee" shall not include:
A.
A judge, justice, officer, or employee of the court system;
B.
A volunteer firefighter or civil defense volunteer, except fire
chief or assistant fire chief; or
C.
A member of an advisory board of the Town, if, but only if,
the advisory board has no authority to implement its recommendations
or to act on behalf of the Town or to restrict the authority of the
Town to act. No entity established pursuant to the General Municipal
Law of the State of New York shall be deemed an advisory board for
purposes of this subsection.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Ethics Board may seek
judicial review and relief pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice
Law and Rules of the State of New York.
Wherever the requirements of this chapter are inconsistent with
the provisions of § 808 of the General Municipal Law, the
more restrictive provision or those imposing higher standards shall
govern.
This chapter shall supersede and repeal the existing Local Law
No. 6 of the year 1970, which became law October 21, 1970, and Chapter
2 of the Town of Saugerties Municipal Code.