As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The parent, sibling, or spouse, child, or household member
of a Village of Bloomfield officer or employee.
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer
or employee, unless the context otherwise requires.
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency,
department or unit of the government of the Village of Bloomfield.
Any officer or employee of the Village of Bloomfield, whether
paid or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory
capacity. 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 an Assistant Chief Engineer.
No Village 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 Village officer or 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, service, loan, travel, entertainment,
hospitality, thing or promise, or in any other form, under circumstances
in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended
to influence him in the performance of his official duties or was
intended as a reward for any official action on his part.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
B.
No Village employee shall accept other employment which will impair
his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
C.
No Village employee shall accept employment or engage in any business
or professional activity which will require him to disclose confidential
information which he has gained by reason of his official position
or authority.
D.
No Village employee shall use or attempt to use his official position
to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for use by himself
or others.
E.
No Village employee shall engage in any transaction as representative
or agent of the Village 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.
F.
A Village 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.
G.
Each Village 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.
H.
Each Village employee shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct
which will not raise suspicion among the public that he is likely
to be engaged in acts that are in violation of his trust.
I.
In no event shall any member of the family of a Village officer or
employee be appointed or hired to serve under the direct authority
or supervision of that Village officer or employee. In no event shall
a Village officer or employee participate in decisionmaking by the
Village of Bloomfield regarding the employment of any member of the
family of that Village officer or employee.
J.
No Village 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 Village in which such employee serves or is
employed.
K.
No officer or employee may, after termination of service or employment
with the Village of Bloomfield, appear before any board or agency
of the Village 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, for a period
of one year.
L.
Appearance of impropriety. Officers or employees shall avoid circumstances
which compromise their ability to make impartial judgments solely
in the public interest. Even the appearance of impropriety should
be avoided to maintain public confidence. An appearance of impropriety
results when an officer's or employee's personal situation may affect
the public's perception of his/her ability to act impartially and
in the best interest of the taxpayers as a whole. Some examples of
such conduct include the following:
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L.
No. 1-2010]
(1)
The opposition of a neighbor to a proposed building project should
disqualify that individual as a member of a Planning Board or Zoning
Board of Appeals from hearing and determining an application on behalf
of the project.
(2)
No Trustee or Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals member should
enter into any ex parte communications with any applicant or individual
appearing before any board for services or approvals.
(a)
This does not include providing information or answering questions,
when solicited by the applicants or interested persons.
(b)
Any Trustee or Board member who speaks to a party in interest
outside the setting of a public meeting should immediately place on
the record, at the next Board meeting, that a conversation took place
and the substance of that conversation.
(3)
No officer or employee should have any ex parte communications or
express public approval or disapproval of any project or request during
any stage of the review process prior to formal Board approval or
disapproval. However, officers and employees do come with philosophical
views concerning such things as development and environment, and such
views are not a basis for a conflict of interest.
M.
Special consideration. No officer or employee shall grant any special
consideration, treatment, or advantage to any citizen or group of
citizens beyond that which is accorded to all citizens.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L.
No. 1-2010]
N.
Political activity. No officer or employee shall perform work, either
volunteer or paid, on behalf of any political party during his/her
hours of employment with the municipality.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L.
No. 1-2010]
O.
Use of municipal resources.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L.
No. 1-2010]
(1)
Municipal resources shall be used for lawful municipal purposes and
include, but are not limited to, municipal personnel, municipal money,
vehicles, equipment, materials, supplies, or other property.
(2)
No officer or employee may use or permit use of municipal resources
for personal or private purposes, but this provision shall not be
construed as prohibiting:
(a)
Any use of municipal resources authorized by law or municipal
policy.
(b)
Use of municipal resources for personal or private purposes
when provided as part of an officer's or employee's compensation.
(c)
Occasional or incidental use of municipal resources such as
municipal telephones or computers during the work day for necessary
personal matters such as family care or change in work schedule.
(d)
No officer or employee shall cause the municipality to spend
more than is reasonably necessary for transportation, meals, or lodging
in connection with official travel.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision
of law, any such Village 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.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L.
No. 1-2010]
An officer or employee must promptly recuse himself or herself
from discussing and acting on a matter before the municipality when
acting on the matter, or failing to act on the matter, may financially
benefit any person mentioned therein or whenever an appearance of
impropriety may exist.
