As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have been defined:
CHILD
Any son, daughter, stepson or stepdaughter of a Town Officer, employee or appointed official if such child is under 18 or is a dependent of the officer, employee or appointed official.
GIFT
Anything of value sought or received for less than fair market value, whether in the form of money, a service, a loan, travel, entertainment, or tickets, or in any other form.
RELATIVE
A spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, brother, sister, parent, or stepparent of a Town officer, employee or appointed official. In addition, any person claimed as a dependent on the latest income return.
TOWN
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department or unit of the government of the Town of Potsdam.
TOWN EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town of Potsdam, whether paid or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
No Town 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.
A. 
No Town employee shall accept other employment, which will impair his independent judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
B. 
No Town employee shall accept employment or engage in any business or professional activity that will require him to disclose confidential information which he has gained by reason of his official position or authority.
C. 
No Town employee shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others.
D. 
No Town employee shall engage in any transaction as representative or agent of the Town with any business entity in which he has a direct or indirect financial interest that might reasonably tend to conflict with the proper discharge of his official duties.
E. 
A Town employee shall not, by his conduct, give reasonable basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence him or unduly enjoy his favor in the performance of his official duties, or that he is affected by the kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person.
F. 
Each Town employee shall abstain from making personal investments in enterprises which he has reason to believe may be directly involved in decisions to be made by him or which will otherwise create substantial conflict between his duty in the public interest and his private interest.
G. 
Each Town employee shall refrain from financial, business, or political activity that might undermine the public's confidence in the government and shall never use his or her official position for private gain.
H. 
No Town employee employed on a full-time basis nor any firm or association of which such employee is a member nor corporation, a substantial portion of the stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such employee, shall sell goods or services to any person, firm, corporation or association which is licensed or whose rates are fixed by the Town in which such employee serves or is employed.
I. 
Each Town employee shall, to the extent that he is cognizant thereof, disclose any interest he may have in legislation before the Town Board.
J. 
No Town employee shall directly or indirectly solicit any gift or accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 or more whether in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise or in any other form under such 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.
K. 
No Town employee shall use his or her government position to make threats or promises for the purpose of trying to get anyone to do any political activity or to make a political contribution.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provisions of law, any such Town 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 matter provided by law.
A. 
Disciplinary action. Any Town employee who engages in any action that violates any provision of this chapter may be warned or reprimanded or be subject to any other sanction authorized by law or collective bargaining agreement, by the appointing authority or person or body authorized by law to impose such sanctions.
B. 
Damages. A Town employee who violates any provision of this chapter shall be liable in damages to the Town for any losses or increased costs incurred by the Town as a result of the violation.
C. 
Civil forfeiture. A Town employee who intentionally or knowingly violates any provision of this chapter may be subject to a civil forfeiture to the Town of a sum equal to three times the value of any financial benefit he received as a result of the conduct that constituted the violation.
D. 
Violation. A Town employee who intentionally or knowingly violates any provision of this chapter may be guilty of a violation and be subject to a maximum fine of $250 for each such violation or a fifteen-day term of imprisonment or both.
E. 
Enforcement. With the exception of Subsection A above, the Town Board shall have exclusive jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of § 24-6 by commencing an action in a court of competent jurisdiction in furtherance of such enforcement.
All government officers and employees shall comply with the following provisions on disclosure and recusal.
A. 
As soon as a Town employee faces a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest under the Ethics Code, the Town employee must recuse him or herself from dealing with the matter.
B. 
Whenever a Town employee is required to recuse him or herself under this section, the officer or employee shall immediately stop participating further in the matter; and within five business days inform his or her superior, if any, about the recusal; and within five business days file a written statement with the Board of Ethics disclosing the nature and extent of the conflict of interest.
C. 
No one shall retaliate against a Town employee or take any adverse personal action against a Town employee for complying with this section.