Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General
Municipal Law, the Village Board of the Village of Wolcott 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 Wolcott. These rules shall serve as a guide for official
conduct of the officers and employees of the Village of Wolcott. 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 of municipal officers
and employees.
As used in this chapter, the following words 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 Wolcott, 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 Wolcott 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
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 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 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 Village Board and any officer or employee of the Village
of Wolcott, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion
or gives an 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 the termination of service or employment
with such municipality, appear before any board or agency of the Village
of Wolcott 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 Wolcott 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.
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 chapter may be fined, suspended or removed
from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided
by law.