There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of three members to be appointed by the Village Board, all of whom reside in the Village of Bloomfield, and who shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the Village Board of the Village of Bloomfield. A majority of such members shall be persons other than Village employees, but shall include at least one member who is an elected or appointed Village employee of the Village of Bloomfield.
A. 
The Board of Ethics shall have the powers and duties prescribed by Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and shall render advisory opinions to the officers and employees of the Village of Bloomfield pursuant to the written request of such officer or employee with respect to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and the foregoing Code of Ethics, under such rules and regulations as the Board of Trustees may prescribe.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
B. 
The opinions of the Board of Ethics shall be advisory and confidential, and in no event shall the identity of the Village employee be disclosed except to authorized persons and agencies. Such opinions shall be on the advice of legal counsel employed by the Board of Ethics or, if none, of the Village Attorney.
C. 
The Board of Ethics shall enjoy the right to issue subpoenas to require attendance of any person and the production of any document or other evidence as provided for in New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
D. 
Under no circumstances shall the Board of Ethics investigate any matter subject of a pending criminal investigation, and the Board of Ethics shall immediately suspend any investigation upon notice of a pending criminal investigation.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
E. 
A majority vote of the members of the Board of Ethics shall be necessary for any action taken by the Board of Ethics.
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
F. 
The Board of Ethics is subject to the following rules of procedure:
[Added 9-22-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
(1) 
Shall permit requests for advisory opinions from officers and employees having or having the perception of a conflict.
(2) 
The opinion must be in writing and provide all relevant facts.
(3) 
Shall consider the Code of Ethics opinions of the New York State Attorney General and the New York State Comptroller, as well as relevant provisions of the General Municipal Law and Village Law.
(4) 
Advisory opinions shall only answer the question raised.
(5) 
The name of the person requesting the advisory opinion shall be kept confidential.
(6) 
The Board of Ethics may access an attorney assigned to it by the Village Board of Trustees, if any.
(7) 
Advisory opinions are confidential and exempt from Freedom of Information Law[1] requests.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Public Officers Law 84 et seq.
(8) 
Meetings of the Board of Ethics are exempt from the Open Meetings Law.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Public Officers Law 100 et seq.
(9) 
Meetings of the Board of Ethics shall not be held at the same time as meetings of any other Village board.
(10) 
The Board of Ethics may establish such other and additional rules of procedures for the conduct of its business, not in conflict with the procedures set above.
(11) 
The Board of Ethics may recommend that the Board of Trustees discipline officers and employees for violations of these ethics provisions. The Board may also refer an investigation to the District Attorney's Office.
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.