Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Liverpool, New York, recognizes that there are rules of ethical conduct for public officers and employees which must be observed if they are to inspire public confidence and trust in Village government. Further, nothing is more important to officials and employees of the Village than the Village residents' opinion about their honesty, truthfulness and personal integrity. Finally, any individual or collective compromise with respect to these character traits can damage the ability of the Village government to perform its tasks and accomplish its mission. Accordingly, the purpose of this chapter is to promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees of the Village. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Village. 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 of the State of New York or any other general or special law relating to ethical conduct and interest in contracts of municipal officers and employees. Section
38-5 also provides for the establishment of a Board of Ethics for the Village pursuant to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires:
INTEREST
A direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing
to a municipal officer or employee of this Village as a result of
a contract, law, resolution or ordinance with or of this Village.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village, 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.
VILLAGE
The Village of Liverpool, New York.
VILLAGE AGENCY
Any board, commission, department, bureau or the like of
the Village of Liverpool, New York.
VILLAGE BOARD
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Liverpool, New York.
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, or any agency
thereof, on behalf of him/herself or any member of his/her family
arising out of any personal injury or property damage or for any lawful
benefit authorized or permitted by law.
Any suspected violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be referred to the Ethics Committee, which shall investigate and render its advisory opinion to the Board pursuant to §
38-5 herein. The Board shall then take any action it deems appropriate.
If any clause, paragraph, section or part of this chapter shall
be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder
thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence,
paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy
in which such judgment shall be rendered.
This chapter will in no way usurp any existing rules, regulations,
laws or codes of the Village of Liverpool, County of Onondaga, State
of New York or United States of America.
The Mayor of the Village shall cause a copy of this Code of
Ethics to be distributed to every municipal officer and employee within
30 days after the effective date of this chapter. Each municipal officer
and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished a
copy before entering upon the duties of his/her office or employment.
This chapter shall take effect 10 days after it is published,
posted and filed in accordance with law.