[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Kensington 8-15-1984 by resolution. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Kensington
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 Kensington. These rules shall serve as a guide for
official conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Kensington.
The rules of ethical conduct set forth in this chapter 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 chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer
or employee, unless the context otherwise requires.
An officer or employee of the Village of Kensington, whether
paid or unpaid, including a member of any administrative board, commission
or other agency thereof. No person shall be deemed to be an "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 Kensington 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 in the performance of his 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 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 this 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 Kensington, 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 Kensington 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 Kensington 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.
The Mayor of the Village of Kensington shall cause a copy of
this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee
of the Village of Kensington within 10 days after the effective date
of this chapter. Each officer and employee elected or appointed thereafter
shall be furnished with 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 of Ethics may be fined, suspended or
removed from office or employement, as the case may be, in the manner
provided by law.