[Adopted 12-10-1970 by L.L. No. 9-1970 (Ch. 52 of the 1989 Code)]
The Common Council of the City of Plattsburgh recognizes that
there are state statutory provisions authorizing cities to establish
rules and standards of ethical conduct for public officers and employees
which, if observed, can enhance public confidence in local government.
In the light of a tendency today on the part of some people to downgrade
our local governments and to discredit our public servants and our
free institutions generally, it appears necessary that every effort
be made to ensure the highest caliber of public administration of
this City as part of our state's important system of local government.
It is the purpose of this chapter to implement this objective through
the establishment of standards of conduct, to provide for punishment
of violation of such standards and to create a Board of Ethics to
render advisory opinions to the City's officers and employees
as provided herein.
The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein
are in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions
or procedures prescribed by statute of the State of New York and also
in addition to common law rules and judicial decisions relation to
the conduct of City officers to the extent that the same are more
severe in their application than this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CITY
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency,
department or unit of the government of the City of Plattsburgh.
CITY EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the City of Plattsburgh, whether
paid or unpaid and whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory
capacity.
No City employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise,
direct or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional
activity or incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial
conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision
of law, any such City employee who shall knowingly and intentionally
violate any of the provisions of this chapter may be fined, suspended
or removed from office or employment in the manner provided by law.
[Adopted 12-17-1970 by L.L. No. 10-1970 (Ch. 53 of the 1989 Code)]
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
There is hereby authorization to establish a Board of Ethics
consisting of three members, to be appointed by the City Council and
Mayor, all of whom reside in the City of Plattsburgh and who shall
serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the City Council
and Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh. A majority of such members shall
be persons other than City employees, but the Board shall include
at least one member who is an elected or appointed City employee of
the City of Plattsburgh.
The Board of Ethics established hereunder shall render advisory
opinions to City employees on written request and upon request of
the Common Council shall make recommendations to such Common Council
as to any amendments of this chapter. The opinions of the Board of
Ethics shall be advisory and confidential and in no event shall the
identity of the City employee be disclosed except to authorized persons
and agencies. Such opinions shall be on the advice of counsel employed
by the Board of Ethics or, if none, of the City Attorney.
Such Board of Ethics, upon its formation, shall promulgate its
own rules and regulations as to its form and procedures and shall
maintain appropriate records of its opinions and proceedings.