[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Ravena: Art. I, 8-26-1980 as L.L. No. 1-1980; Art. II, Adopted at
time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Section
15-5 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-26-1980 as L.L. No. 1-1980]
The purpose of this Article is to provide legal and financial
protection for those individuals serving the Village of Ravena from
losses from civil actions which may be brought against them in their
individual capacity for actions taken while in the performance of
their official duties and responsibilities. In enacting this Article,
the Board of Trustees finds that the State of New York has enacted
similar provisions for the legal and financial security of its officers
and employees, and further finds that such security is also required
for local personnel. By enactment of this Article, the Board of Trustees
does not intend to limit or otherwise abrogate any existing right
or responsibility of the village or its employees with regard to indemnification
or legal defense. It is solely the intent of this Article to provide
similar coverage for local employees as is presently provided for
state employees, so as to continue to attract qualified individuals
to local government service.
As used in this Article, unless the context otherwise requires,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person holding a position by election, appointment or
employment in the service of the Village of Ravena, whether or not
compensated, or a volunteer expressly authorized to participate in
a municipally sponsored volunteer program, but shall not include an
independent contractor. The term "employee" shall include a former
employee, his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
A.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 15-5, the village shall provide for the defense of the employee in any civil action or proceeding in any state or federal court arising out of any alleged act or omission which occurred or is alleged in the complaint to have occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of his public employment or duties, or which is brought to enforce a provision of § 1981 or 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code. This duty to provide for a defense shall not arise where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Village of Ravena.
B.
Subject to the conditions set forth in Subsection A, the employee shall be entitled to be represented by the Village Attorney; provided, however, that the employee shall be entitled to representation by private counsel of his choice in any civil judicial proceeding whenever the Village Attorney determines, based upon his investigation and review of the facts and circumstances of the case, that representation by the Village Attorney would be inappropriate, or whenever a court of competent jurisdiction, upon appropriate motion or by a special proceeding, determines that a conflict of interest exists and that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of his choice. The Village Attorney shall notify the employee in writing of such determination that the employee is entitled to be represented by private counsel of his choice. The Village Attorney may require, as a condition to payment of the fees and expenses of such representation, that appropriate groups of such employees be represented by the same counsel. If the employee or group of employees is entitled to representation by private counsel under the provisions of this section, the Village Attorney shall so certify to the Village Board. Reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the village to such private counsel from time to time during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding, subject to certification that the employee is entitled to representation under the terms and conditions of this section by the head of the department, commission, division, office or agency in which such employee is employed and upon the audit and warrant of the Village Treasurer. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple employees by a single counsel or the amount of litigation expenses or the reasonableness of attorneys' fees shall be resolved by the court upon motion or by way of a special proceeding.
C.
Where the employee delivers process and a request for a defense to the Village Attorney as required by § 15-5, the Attorney shall take the necessary steps, including the retention of private counsel under the terms and conditions provided in Subsection B, on behalf of the employee to avoid entry of a default judgment pending resolution of any question pertaining to the obligation to provide for a defense.
A.
The village shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the
amount of any judgment obtained against such employees in any state
or federal court or in the amount of any settlement of a claim, provided
that the act or omission from which such judgment or settlement arose
occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of his public
employment or duties. The duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed
by this subsection shall not arise where the injury or damage resulted
from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness on the part of the employee.
B.
An employee represented by private counsel shall cause to be submitted
to the Board of Trustees any proposed settlement which may be subject
to indemnification by the village, and if not inconsistent with the
provisions of this section, the Mayor shall certify such settlement
and submit such settlement and certification to the Village Attorney.
The Attorney shall review such proposed settlement as to form and
amount and shall give his approval if in his judgment the settlement
is in the best interest of the village. Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to authorize the village to indemnify or save harmless
an employee with respect to a settlement not so reviewed and approved
by the Village Attorney.
C.
Upon entry of a final judgment against the employee or upon the settlement
of the claim, the employee shall cause to be served a copy of such
judgment or settlement, personally or by certified or registered mail
within 30 days of the date of entry or settlement, upon the Mayor;
and if not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, such
judgment or settlement shall be certified for payment by such Mayor.
If the Attorney concurs in such certification, the judgment or settlement
shall be paid upon the audit and warrant of the Village Treasurer.
The duty to defend or indemnify and save harmless provided by
this Article shall be conditioned upon delivery to the Village Attorney
or his assistant, at his office, by the employee, of the original
or a copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading
within 10 days after he is served with such document, and upon the
full cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action or
proceeding and in the defense of any action or proceeding against
the state based upon the same act or omission and in the prosecution
of any appeal. Such delivery shall be deemed a request by the employee
that the village provide for his defense pursuant to this Article.
The benefits of this Article shall inure only to employees as
defined herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any
other party, nor shall any provision of this Article be construed
to affect, alter or repeal any provision of the Workers' Compensation
Law.
The provisions of this Article shall not be construed to impair,
alter, limit or modify the rights and obligations of any insurer under
any policy of insurance.
The provisions of this Article shall apply to all actions and
proceedings pending upon the effective date thereof or thereafter
instituted.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Article, the
provisions of this Article shall not be construed in any way to impair,
alter, limit, modify, abrogate or restrict any immunity available
to or conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the
village or any right to defense and/or indemnification provided for
any governmental officer or employee by, in accordance with or by
reason of any other provision of state or federal statutory or common
law.
The term of office of the Mayor and of the four Trustees of
the Village of Ravena shall hereafter be for four years.
Village elections for the election of the Mayor and Trustees
shall hereafter be held biennially on the third Tuesday in March in
the even-numbered years, except that an election shall be held on
the third Tuesday of March 1957 for the election of those Village
Trustees whose terms in office expire in 1957, and those village officers
so elected at said village election in 1957 shall serve for a term
commencing upon the expiration of the term of the incumbent for the
respective offices and to end at 12:00 noon on the first Monday of
the month following the village election in the fifth calendar year
following, namely, 1962, and the successors of such village officers
so elected shall be elected for terms of four official years.
This Article shall take effect immediately, but it shall be
subject to a permissive referendum as prescribed by § 3-302
of the Village Law.
