There is hereby created and established a Board of Ethics consisting
of five members to be appointed by the Mayor or his successor to that
office, by whatever name it is known, to wit, the chief administrative
officer of the Village, subject to the confirmation of the Village
legislative body. The members shall include at least one member who
is a municipal officer or employee of the Village of Massena, with
the majority of the members being non-Village officers or employees.
The Village Attorney shall be an ex-officio member of the Board of
Ethics without the power to vote. The members of such Board shall
receive no salary or compensation for their services as members of
such Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Village Board of
the Village of Massena.
No persons may be appointed as members of such Board who shall
be:
A.
Political committeemen or officials of any political club in the
Village.
B.
Persons closely related by family or business to any Village officer
or employee.
C.
Persons having business dealing with the Village or any Village agency,
directly or indirectly, either personally or through some firm, association
or corporation in which such person has any business interest or in
which such person has an official capacity.
The members of said Board of Ethics shall elect from their group
a Chairman and Secretary.
Such Board, upon its formation, shall promulgate its own rules
and regulations as to its forms and procedures and maintain appropriate
records of its opinions and proceedings, for which expenses it shall
be reimbursed as a Village charge, and an adequate appropriation for
its operation shall be budgeted by the Mayor or his successor in office.
The Board of Ethics shall render advisory opinions to Village
officers and employees with respect to this Code of Ethics. Such advisory
opinions shall be rendered pursuant to the written request of any
Village officer or employee under such rules and regulations as the
Board of Ethics may deem advisable, and said advisory opinion shall
have the approval of the Village Attorney. In addition, the Board
of Ethics may make recommendations with respect to the drafting and
adoption of a Code of Ethics or amendments thereto upon the request
of the Village Board.
All agencies of the Village shall furnish to such Board, in
connection with its investigations, such data, information and statements
as may in the opinion of the Board be necessary for the proper exercise
of its functions, powers and duties.
All requests for advisory opinions or interpretations, and all
complaints and investigations shall be deemed confidential. All findings,
recommendations, advisory opinions, interpretations and proposed revisions
to this code shall be matters of public record.
