This chapter shall be entitled "A Local Law Enacting a Code
of Ethics and Establishing a Board of Ethics for the Town of New Lebanon."
This chapter is enacted pursuant to § 806 of the General
Municipal Law and § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law and
is not intended to authorize any conduct prohibited by Article 18
of the General Municipal Law.
The Town Board of the Town of New Lebanon recognizes that there
are state statutory provisions mandating towns to establish rules
and standards of ethical conduct for public officers and employees
which, if observed, can enhance public confidence in local government.
The purpose of this chapter is to implement this objective through
the establishment of high standards of ethical conduct for officers
and employees of the Town, to afford officers and employees of the
Town guidance on such standards, to provide for punishment of the
violation of such standards, to create a Board of Ethics to render
advisory opinions to the Town's officers and employees as provided
for herein, and to provide for the fair and effective administration
of this chapter.
The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein
are in addition to any prohibited acts, conflict-of-interest provisions
or procedures prescribed by statute and case law relating to the conduct
of Town officers and employees. To the extent this chapter is inconsistent
with the provisions of § 808 of the General Municipal Law,
this chapter shall supersede those provisions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
TOWN
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency,
department or unit of the government of the Town of New Lebanon.
TOWN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
A.
Any officer or employee of the Town of New Lebanon, whether
elected or appointed, whether paid or unpaid, including members of
any administrative board, commission or other agency thereof, whether
serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
B.
The term "Town officer or employee" does not include:
(1)
A person who is a member of a volunteer emergency services organization;
or
(2)
A person who serves without compensation on a temporary Town
committee for a specified term of less than one year, and who is not
otherwise an employee or officer of the Town.