[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of East Hampton 12-2-1977 as Ch. 8 of the 1977 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
A. 
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal Law, the Town Board of the Town of East Hampton recognizes that there are rules of ethical conduct which must be observed if a high degree of moral conduct is to be obtained and if public confidence is to be maintained in our unit of local government. It is the purpose of this local law to promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for the officers and employees of the Town of East Hampton. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Town of East Hampton.
B. 
The rules of ethical conduct of this local law, as adopted, shall not conflict with, but shall be in addition to, any prohibition of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law or any other general or special law relating to ethical conduct and interest in contracts of municipal officers and employees.
C. 
Pursuant to the provisions of § 811 of the General Municipal Law, the Town Board of the Town of East Hampton hereby promulgates an annual financial disclosure statement which shall be filled out by certain Town officials and appointees. By having such officials and appointees file financial disclosure statements, the Town Board seeks to prevent conflicts of interest, identify potential conflicts of interest, and resolve such conflicts of interest.
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993; 6-6-2003 by L.L. No. 13-2003; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021; 5-6-2025 by L.L. No. 10-2025]
When used in this code and unless otherwise expressly stated or unless the context otherwise requires:
CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER
The Supervisor of the Town of East Hampton.
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION FUND COMMITTEE
The advisory board established to review and make recommendations on proposed acquisitions of interests in real property using monies from the Community Preservation Fund, as authorized in § 64-e of the New York State Town Law.
CONTRACT
Any claim, account or demand against or agreement with a municipality, express or implied, and shall include the designation of a depository of public funds and the designation of a newspaper, including but not limited to an official newspaper, for the publication of any notice, resolution, ordinance or other proceeding where such publication is required or authorized by law.
INTEREST
A direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a Town officer or employee as the result of a contract with the Town which such officer or employee serves. For the purposes of this code, a Town officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract of:
A. 
His spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment with the municipality which such officer or employee serves;
B. 
A firm, partnership or association of which such officer or employee is a member or employee;
C. 
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director or employee; and
D. 
A corporation any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee.
MUNICIPAL BOARD
The governing boards of the Town of East Hampton: Town Board and the Board of Trustees; and the administrative boards of the Town of East Hampton: Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Architectural Review Board, Board of Assessment Review, Community Preservation Fund Committee, Board of Ethics, Licensing Review Board, Community Housing Advisory Board, Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee, and Housing Authority.
MUNICIPALITY
The Town of East Hampton, or a Town improvement district.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the town, whether paid or unpaid, including members of a municipal board. No person shall be deemed to be a Town officer or employee solely by reason of being a volunteer fireman or civil defense volunteer, except a chief engineer or assistant chief engineer.
SPOUSE
The husband or wife of the reporting individual unless living separate and apart from the reporting individual with the intention of terminating the marriage or providing for permanent separation or unless separated pursuant to (a) a judicial order, decree or judgment, or (b) a legally binding separation agreement.
TREASURER
The Town Supervisor, fire district treasurer, improvement district treasurer or other officer possessing similar powers and duties.
UNEMANCIPATED CHILD
Any child or stepchild who is under the age of 18, unmarried and living in the household of the reporting individual.
A. 
Except as provided in § 25-4 of this code and § 802 of the General Municipal Law:
[Amended 7-5-1991 by L.L. No. 14-1991; 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
(1) 
No municipal officer or employee shall have an interest in any contract with the municipality of which he is an officer or employee when such officer or employee, individually or as a member of a board, has the power or duty to:
(a) 
Negotiate, prepare, authorize or approve the contract or authorize or approve payment thereunder;
(b) 
Audit bills or claims under the contract; or
(c) 
Appoint an officer or employee who has any of the powers or duties set forth above; and
(2) 
No chief fiscal officer, treasurer or his deputy or employee shall have an interest in a bank or trust company designated as a depository, paying agent or registration agent or for investment of funds of the municipality of which he is an officer or employee.
(3) 
No person shall serve as a Town of East Hampton Town Board member and at the same time hold the position of chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Town, County, state or national committee of a duly recognized political party or any subdivision thereof. No person shall hold an appointive office on a Town of East Hampton Municipal Board and at the same time hold a position as a committee member of the Town, county, state or national committee of a duly recognized political party or any subdivision thereof. For purposes of this section, a person holding the office of chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer or any other officer of any of the aforementioned committee(s) shall be deemed to be a member of such committee(s). Persons holding such political offices and elective or appointive Town offices at the time of enactment of this statute may continue to hold such offices and perform the duties thereof until the completion of their existing terms.
[Amended 12-15-1995 by L.L. No. 15-1995; 5-19-2005 by L.L. No. 17-2005; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
(a) 
Any person who is a member of the aforementioned political committee(s) shall deliver to the Town Clerk evidence of his or her resignation from said political committee(s) within five days of taking the oath of elective office or within five days of his or her appointment to a Town of East Hampton Municipal Board, whichever occurs first.
(b) 
Any person who is currently an elected Town official or a member of a Town of East Hampton Municipal Board and who is currently a member of any aforementioned political committee(s) shall deliver to the Town Clerk evidence of his or her resignation from said political committee within 20 days of the enactment of this local law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: "This local law" refers to L.L. No. 15-1995.
B. 
The provisions of this section shall in no event be construed to preclude the payment of lawful compensation and necessary expenses of any municipal officer or employment, the holding of which is not prohibited by law.
The provisions of § 25-3 of this code shall not apply to:
A. 
General exceptions.
(1) 
The designation of a bank or trust company as a depository, paying agent, registration agent or for investment of funds of a municipality except when the chief fiscal officer, treasurer, or his deputy or employee, has an interest in such bank or trust company; provided, however, that where designation of a bank or trust company outside the municipality would be required because of the foregoing restriction, a bank or trust company within the municipality may nevertheless be so designated.
(2) 
A contract with a person, firm, corporation or association in which a municipal officer or employee has an interest which is prohibited solely by reason of employment as an officer or employee thereof, if the remuneration of such employment will not be directly affected as a result of such contract and the duties of such employment do not directly involve the procurement, preparation or performance of any part of such contract.
(3) 
The designation of a newspaper, including but not limited to an official newspaper, for the publication of any notice, resolution, ordinance or other proceeding where such publication is required or authorized by law.
(4) 
The purchase by a municipality of real property or an interest therein, provided the purchase and the consideration therefor is approved by order of the Supreme Court upon petition of the governing board.
(5) 
The acquisition of real property or an interest therein, through condemnation proceedings according to law.
(6) 
A contract with a membership corporation or other voluntary nonprofit corporation or association.
(7) 
The sale of bonds and notes pursuant to § 60.10 of the Local Finance Law.
(8) 
A contract in which a municipal officer or employee has an interest if such contract was entered into prior to the time he was elected or appointed as such officer or employee, but this paragraph shall in no event authorize a renewal of any such contract.
B. 
Additional exceptions.
(1) 
A contract with a corporation in which a municipal officer or employee has an interest by reason of stock holdings when less than 5% of the outstanding stock of the corporation is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee.
(2) 
[1]A contract for the furnishing of public utility services when the rates or charges therefor are fixed or regulated by the Public Service Commission.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(2), Health services contracts, was repealed 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993, which local law also renumbered former Subsections B(3) through (6) as B(2) through (5).
(3) 
A contract for the payment of a reasonable rental of a room or rooms owned or leased by a municipal officer or employee when the same are used in the performance of his official duties and are so designated as an office or chamber.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
(4) 
A contract for the payment of a portion of the compensation of a private employee of a municipal officer when such employee performs part time service in the official duties of the office.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
(5) 
A contract in which a municipal officer or employee has an interest if the total consideration payable thereunder, when added to the aggregate amount of all consideration payable under contracts in which such person had an interest during the fiscal year, does not exceed the sum of $100.
A. 
Any municipal officer or employee who has, will have or later acquires an interest in any actual or proposed contract with the municipality of which he is a municipal officer or employee shall publicly disclose the nature and extent of such interest in writing to the governing body thereof as soon as he or she has knowledge of such actual or prospective interest. Such written disclosure shall be made part of and set forth in the official record of the proceedings of such body. Once disclosure has been made by a municipal officer or employee with respect to an interest in a contract with a particular person, firm, corporation or association, no further disclosures need be made by such officer or employee with respect to additional contracts with the same party during the remainder of the fiscal year.
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
B. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, disclosure shall not be required in the case of an interest in a contract described in Subsection B of § 25-4 hereof.
Any contract willfully entered into by or with a municipality in which there is an interest prohibited by this code shall be null, void and wholly unenforceable.
Any municipal officer or employee who willfully and knowingly violates the foregoing provisions of this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, as provided in § 805 of the General Municipal Law.
[Amended 11-20-1998 by L.L. No. 39-1998; 6-6-2003 by L.L. No. 13-2003; 9-3-2004 by L.L. No. 24-2004; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021; 5-6-2025 by L.L. No. 10-2025]
A. 
No municipal officer or employee shall:
(1) 
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 or her, or could reasonably be expected to influence him or her, in the performance of his or her official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his or her part, notwithstanding the foregoing it shall be permissible for a municipal officer or employee to attend as part of his/her official duties, a function of an organization composed of representatives of business, labor, professions, news media, or organizations of a civic, charitable, or community nature, when invited by the sponsoring organization, regardless of the price which the public may be charged for a ticket to the event, and regardless of whether his/her office provides funding for that organization. It shall also be permissible for the municipal officer or employee to accept one complimentary guest ticket.
(2) 
Disclose confidential information acquired by him in the course of his or her official duties or use such information to further his or her personal interests;
(3) 
Receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensated and/or uncompensated services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any municipal agency of which he or she is an officer, member or employee or of any municipal agency over which he or she has the power to appoint any member, officer or employee; or
(4) 
Receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any agency of his or her municipality, whereby his or her compensation is to be dependent or contingent upon any action by such agency with respect to such matter, provided that this paragraph shall not prohibit the fixing at any time of fees based upon the reasonable value of the services rendered.
B. 
No member of the Community Preservation Fund Committee, Board of Ethics or the Nature Preserve Committee shall disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the course of his or her official duties or use such information to further his or her personal interests.
C. 
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any person who shall knowingly and intentionally violate this section may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment in the manner provided by law.
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
A. 
The Supervisor of the Town shall promptly cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every municipal officer and employee of the Town of East Hampton, upon employment or appointment with the Town. The Supervisor of the Town shall promptly cause a copy of any amendment to the Code of Ethics to be distributed to every municipal officer and employee of the Town of East Hampton upon adoption of such amendment. Failure to distribute any such copy or failure of any officer or employee to receive such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this code, nor the enforcement of provisions thereof.
B. 
The Supervisor of the Town shall promptly cause a copy of this code to be kept posted in each public building under the jurisdiction of the Town in a place conspicuous to its municipal officers and employees, and shall promptly post a copy of any amendment to the Code upon adoption of such amendment. Failure to post any such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this code nor with the enforcement of the provisions thereof.
C. 
The Town Clerk shall maintain in his or her office as a record subject to public inspection:
(1) 
A copy of this Code of Ethics or any amendments adopted thereto within 30 days after the adoption of such code or such amendment.
(2) 
A statement that such municipality has established a Board of Ethics, in accordance with § 808 of the General Municipal Law and the composition of such Board, within 30 days after the establishment of such Board.
(3) 
A copy of the form of annual statement of financial disclosure adopted by the Town Board pursuant to this chapter, and a statement setting forth the date of the local law which promulgated said annual statement of financial disclosure.
(4) 
A copy of the Town Clerk's annual filing with the State Legislature in which the Town Clerk reports whether or not the Town has a code of ethics in effect as of the filing date. Such filing is to be received by the State Legislature on or before the 15th day of February of each year.
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993; 3-1-2002 by L.L. No. 2-2002; 9-3-2004 by L.L. No. 24-2004; 5-6-2025 by L.L. No. 10-2025]
A. 
The Board of Ethics shall consist of seven members, one of whom shall be an elected or appointed Town officer or employee and the remaining six shall not be officers or employees of the Town. Such members shall receive no salary or compensation for their services.
B. 
The members of the Board of Ethics shall serve for four-year terms, said terms to be staggered. A member's term of office shall run from January 1 through December 31 four years hence. Appointments shall be made at the Town Board's annual organizational meeting, at which time the Town Board shall also appoint one member to serve as Chair and one member to serve as Vice Chair.
C. 
The Town Attorney shall serve as counsel to the Board of Ethics, except he or she shall be excused when he or she or the Board of Ethics determines that he or she has, or may reasonably appear to have, a conflict of interest. In such event, substitute counsel shall be provided in a timely fashion.
D. 
The Board of Ethics may make recommendations to the Town Board with respect to the drafting and adoption of the Code of Ethics or amendments thereto upon the request of the Town Board or upon the initiative of the members of the Board of Ethics.
E. 
The Board of Ethics shall be the authorized repository for completed annual statements of financial disclosure which certain Town officials and appointees are required to file pursuant to § 25-14 of this chapter. The Board of Ethics shall have a designated location within the Town Clerk's office where such completed statements shall be kept.
F. 
The Board of Ethics shall promulgate and operate under such rules and regulations as it deems reasonable and necessary to administer and fulfill its duties and functions as authorized in this chapter and in Article 18 of General Municipal Law. The Board of Ethic's rules and regulations shall be filed with the Town Board, and, unless rejected or modified within 30 days, shall be operative. Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to the procedure whereby a person who is required to file an annual financial disclosure statement may request an extension of time within which to file such statement, due to justifiable cause or undue hardship, as well as a date beyond which in all cases of justifiable cause or undue hardship no further extension of time will be granted.
G. 
Application for amendment of statement.
(1) 
The Board of Ethics shall permit any person required to file a financial disclosure statement pursuant to § 25-14 to submit a written application asking the Board of Ethics:
(a) 
To delete one or more items of information from the copy of his or her financial disclosure statement which is made available for public inspection.
(b) 
To grant an exemption from any requirement to report one or more items of information which pertain to such person's spouse or unemancipated children.
(2) 
Such application shall accompany the filing of the financial disclosure statement. During the period of time that such application is pending before the Board of Ethics, any information that is the subject or a part of the application shall remain confidential.
(3) 
The Board of Ethics shall consider the application and may delete such information from public inspection or may exempt such information pertaining to the spouse or unemancipated child upon a finding by a majority of the total number of members of the Board of Ethics without vacancy that the information which would otherwise be required to be disclosed, or would otherwise be required to be provided, will have no material bearing on the discharge of the reporting person's official duties.
(4) 
If such request is denied, the Board of Ethics shall so inform the reporting person in writing. Upon receipt of such determination, the reporting individual may request, and upon such request the Board of Ethics shall provide, that any information which is the subject or part of the application shall remain confidential for a period of 30 days following notice of such determination. In the event the reporting individual resigns his or her office and holds no other position subject to the reporting requirements set forth in this chapter, the information shall not be made public and shall be expunged in its entirety.
(5) 
The Board of Ethics' denial of a request pursuant to this subsection shall become final 30 days after its issuance.
H. 
The Board of Ethics shall inspect all of the filed financial disclosure statements to ascertain whether any person subject to the reporting requirement set forth in § 25-14 has failed to file such a statement, has filed a deficient statement, or has filed a statement which reveals a possible violation of this Code of Ethics or of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
I. 
If a person required to file a financial disclosure statement with the Board of Ethics has failed to file a disclosure statement or has filed a deficient statement, the Board of Ethics shall notify the reporting person in writing, state the failure to file or detail the deficiency, provide the person with a fifteen-day period to make such filing or cure such deficiency and advise the person of the penalties for failure to comply with the reporting requirements. Such notice shall be confidential. If the person fails to make such filing or fails to cure the deficiency within the specified time period, the Board of Ethics shall send a notice of delinquency to the reporting person and to the Town Board.
J. 
Violations.
(1) 
If a reporting person has filed a financial disclosure statement which reveals a possible violation of this Code of Ethics or Article 18 of General Municipal Law, or if the Board of Ethics receives a sworn complaint alleging such a violation, or if the Board of Ethics determines on its own initiative to investigate a possible violation, the Board of Ethics shall notify the reporting person in writing, describe the possible or alleged violation of this Code of Ethics or Article 18 of General Municipal Law and provide the person with a fifteen-day period in which to submit a written response setting forth information relating to the activities cited as a possible or alleged violation of law.
(2) 
If the Board of Ethics thereafter makes a determination that further inquiry is justified, it shall give the reporting individual an opportunity to be heard. The reporting person shall be entitled to a hearing according to due process procedures and subject to any applicable provisions of law and collective bargaining agreements.
(3) 
If the Board of Ethics determines at any stage of the proceeding that there is no violation or that any potential conflict of interest violation has been rectified, the Board of Ethics shall so advise the reporting person and the complainant, if any. All of the foregoing proceedings shall be confidential.
(4) 
If the Board of Ethics determines, pursuant to the hearing, that there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred, it shall send a notice of reasonable cause to the reporting person, to the complainant, if any, and to the Town Board. In its discretion, the Ethics Board may recommend to the Town Board disciplinary action. In addition, if the Board of Ethics determines pursuant to such hearing, that a reporting individual has knowingly and willfully failed to file an annual statement of financial disclosure, or has knowingly and willfully with intent to deceive made a false statement or given information that such individual knows to be false on a statement of financial disclosure filed pursuant to § 25-14, the Board of Ethics shall recommend to the Town Board an amount, not to exceed $10,000, to be assessed against the reporting individual.
(5) 
The Town Board shall receive the recommendation(s) of the Ethics Board. The Board may review the findings of fact and the record, if any, as shall be made available to it by the Ethics Board. The Town Board may take such disciplinary action, impose such penalties as provided in this chapter, or make a recommendation that the matter be referred to the appropriate prosecuting authority, as it deems to be appropriate and just. If the Town Board determines to assess a civil penalty, it shall provide the reporting person with a notice of civil assessment. Said assessment of civil penalty shall become final 30 days after the notice of civil assessment is issued.
K. 
Advisory opinions.
(1) 
The Board of Ethics shall render advisory opinions solely to officers and employees of the Town with respect to this Code of Ethics and Article 18 of the General Municipal Law. Such advisory opinions shall be rendered pursuant to the written request of an affected individual officer or employee of the town, the initiative of the Board of Ethics or pursuant to a resolution of the Town Board. Such advisory opinions shall be rendered under such rules and regulations as the Board of Ethics may prescribe.
(2) 
An opinion rendered by the Board of Ethics, unless and until amended or revoked, shall be binding on the Board of Ethics in any subsequent proceeding concerning the person who requested the opinion and who acted in good faith, unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the person in the request for an opinion.
(3) 
A request for an advisory opinion shall be confidential, but the Board of Ethics may publish such opinions, provided that the name of the requesting person and other identifying details are not included in the publication. The Board of Ethics shall endeavor, to the extent practicable, to publish its advisory opinions, so as to assist Town officers and employees in complying with applicable laws. As advisory opinion which concerns an individual employee shall be forwarded to the Town's Human Resources Department to be included in that employee's personnel file.
(4) 
The Town Board shall, within 45 days of an advisory opinion sent to them by the Board of Ethics, respond in writing and state the sum and substance the Town Board's intention with respect to advisory opinion.
L. 
The Board of Ethics shall make available to all officers and employees of the Town copies of this law, all applicable forms adopted by the Town Board and such state statutes which it believes may be of assistance to the officers and employees in complying with applicable ethics provisions.
M. 
The Board of Ethics shall make an annual report of its activities to the Town Board.
N. 
The Board of Ethics shall have such other powers and duties as shall be provided by or pursuant to Article 18, as amended, of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York and as may be requested by the Town Board.
A. 
Every application, petition or request submitted for a variance, amendment, change of zoning, approval of a plat, exemption from a plat or official map, license or permit, pursuant to the provisions of any ordinance, local law, rule or regulation constituting the zoning and planning regulations of a municipality[1] shall state the name, residence and the nature and extent of the interest of any state officer or any officer or employee of such municipality or of a municipality of which such municipality is a part, in the person, partnership or association making such application, petition or request (hereinafter called the applicant) to the extent known to such applicant.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 220, Subdivision of Land, and Ch. 255, Zoning.
B. 
For the purpose of this section, an officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the applicant when he or she, his or her spouse or their brothers, sisters, parents, children, grandchildren or the spouse of any of them:
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
(1) 
Is the applicant;
(2) 
Is an officer, director, partner or employee of the applicant;
(3) 
Legally or beneficially owns or controls stock of a corporate applicant or is a member of a partnership or association applicant; or
(4) 
Is a party to an agreement with such an applicant, express or implied, whereby he or she may receive any payment or other benefit, whether or not for services rendered, dependent or contingent upon the favorable approval of such application, petition or request.
C. 
Ownership of less than 5% of the stock of a corporation whose stock is listed on the New York or American Stock Exchanges shall not constitute an interest for the purposes of this section.
D. 
A person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in § 809 of the General Municipal Law.
E. 
The affidavit form to be submitted pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall be as follows:
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993; 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
)
)
)
.................... being duly sworn deposes and says that he (or) she is .................... Owner or Agent for Owner of the property above described. That all statements made in this application are true to the best of his (or) her knowledge and belief, except as to any matter therein stated to be alleged on information and belief, as to such matters he (or) she believes the same to be true, and that any accompanying or attached map is substantially correct.
   The undersigned further states that no state officer, or employee of the Town of East Hampton (nor any such officer's or employee's spouse, brother, sister, parent, child, grandchild or the spouse of any of them), has an interest, direct or indirect, in the person, partnership or association making the application. (If such an interest exists, the nature and extent of the interest must be stated. "Interest" is further defined in Section 25-12B of the East Hampton Town Code.)
Signature
Please Print Name
Sworn to before me this ____day of ______, 20___
Notary Public, Suffolk County
[Amended 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
Every municipal officer or employee of the Town of East Hampton shall be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. 
Disclosure of interest in legislation. To the extent that he or she knows thereof, a member of the Town Board and any municipal officer or employee of the Town of East Hampton, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Town Board on any legislation before the Town Board shall publicly disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or other private interest he has in such legislation.
B. 
Investments in conflict with official duties. He or she shall not invest or hold any investment directly or indirectly in any financial business, commercial or other private transaction, which creates a conflict with his official duties.
C. 
Private employment. He or she shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service creates a conflict with or impairs the proper discharge of his official duties.
D. 
Future employment. He or she shall not, after the termination of service or employment with such municipality represent or render services to a private person or organization in connection with any particular transaction in which he or she personally and substantially participated while serving as a municipal officer or employee.
E. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, no municipal officer or employee of the Town of East Hampton shall be deemed or found to be in violation of the provisions of this section solely by reason of his or her status or employment as a licensed professional providing professional services to members of the public or to the private section in general as said services relate to any privately owned or held real or personal property within the Town of East Hampton, unless the municipal actions of said municipal officer or employee shall or may have a direct effect upon said privately owned or held real or personal property, and the municipal action is taken by said municipal officer or employee while in the employ of any individual, firm or entity owning or having any proprietary interest in the real or personal property so affected.
[Added 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
A. 
Pursuant to the authority granted in § 811 of General Municipal Law, the Town Board has promulgated a form of annual statement of financial disclosure.
B. 
Beginning in the calendar year 1994, on an annual basis on or before the 31st day of January of each year or within 30 days of taking office, whichever shall occur first, the following persons shall file a statement of financial disclosure with the Town's Board of Ethics:
[Amended 12-15-1995 by L.L. No. 16-1995; 11-20-1998 by L.L. No. 39-1998; 4-18-2002 by L.L. No. 8-2002]
(1) 
All elected Town officials.
(2) 
All department and division heads.
(3) 
All members of, and all regular legal counsel assigned to, a municipal board.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
(4) 
All appointed employees with the exception of secretarial staff.
(5) 
The following Town positions:
(a) 
Police Captains.
(b) 
Assistant Housing Director.
(c) 
Purchasing Agent.
(d) 
Assistant Planning Director.
(e) 
Assistant Chief Fire Marshall.
C. 
The Town Clerk shall provide the statement of financial disclosure form to each person required to complete said form.
D. 
The annual statement of financial disclosure shall contain the information and shall be in the form set forth hereinbelow:
[Amended 12-16-1994 by L.L. No. 17-1994; 12-15-1995 by L.L. No. 16-1995; 4-18-2002 by L.L. No. 8-2002]
ANNUAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
FOR EAST HAMPTON ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND CERTAIN OTHER EMPLOYEES
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 20__
Please answer each of the following questions completely. If a question is not applicable, please write N.A. If additional space is needed, please attach additional pages. Please print or type.
1.
Name:
2.
a.
Title of position:
b.
Department, Agency or Board:
c.
Date first elected/appointed to said position:
d.
Daytime telephone number:
e.
Home telephone number:
l
3.
a.
Marital status. If married, please give spouse's full name (maiden name where applicable).
b.
List names of all unemancipated (under 18) children:
4.
Real estate ownership. List the address, Tax Map number (section, block, lot) and use of each piece of property that you, your spouse and/or your unemancipated (under 18) children own in which such person has a financial interest including corporate or partnership interest.
Tax Map Number and Street Address
Owner(s), (Self, Spouse, Child)
State Use: (Vacant/Commercial Residential/ Industrial/Other)
Acreage
_________ _________
_____________
_______________
_______
_________ _________
_____________
_______________
_______
_________ _________
_____________
_______________
_______
Attach separate list, if necessary.
5.
Real estate subsidy. If you or anyone who is your tenant receives a subsidy from or through the Town of East Hampton, such as but not limited to the HUD Section 8 Rental Assistance Program, Community Development Home Improvement Program or New York State Affordable Housing Corporation Programs on any of the property mentioned in 4 above, please provide the following information.
Tax Map Number and Street Address
Title of Subsidized Program
Name of Program Participant
l
6.
Employment. List the name, address and description of any occupation, employment, trade, business or profession engaged in by you or your spouse. Include Town position and self-employment from which you and your spouse have earned gross income in excess of $2,000.00 during the calendar year.
a.
Name and Address of Employment
Your Position
Description
b.
Name and Address of Employment
Spouse's Position
Description
7.
List any office, trusteeship, directorship, partnership or position of any nature, including honorary positions, whether compensated or not, held by you or your spouse in any corporation, association, partnership, proprietary or not-for-profit organization. Do not include memberships in any of the above.
a.
Position
Organization
Address
b.
Spouse's Position
Organization
Address
8.
Business interests. List the name, principal address and general description of the nature of any business activity of a limited partnership, corporation or other business in which you or your spouse individually or jointly owns or controls more than a five-percent interest.
Name of Business
Address
Nature of Business
a.
Your ownership:
_________ _________ _________ _________
__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
b.
Spouse's ownership:
_________ _________ _________
__________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________
9.
Other business relationships. List the name, principal address and general description or the nature of the business activity of any entity in which you or your spouse has an investment in excess of $1,000, excluding investments in securities and mutual funds.
a.
Your ownership:
Entity  __________ __________
Address
Nature of Business
b.
Spouse's ownership:
__________
__________ __________ __________
__________
10.
Financial interest in contracts. List any contract(s) made between the Town and one or more of the following: you; your spouse; your child; any partnership in which you, your spouse or your child is a member; and/or any corporation in which 5% or more of the stock is owned or controlled by you, your spouse or your child. Indicate if you, your spouse or your child receive any direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit from such contract(s).
Self/Spouse Child or Partnership/
Entity in Which Interest is Held (Self/Spouse/Child/ Partnership or Corporation)
Relationship To Entity
Interest in Contract Corporation (Yes or No)
11.
Licensed professionals. If you or your spouse practice law or are licensed by the Department of State as a real estate broker or agent or practice a profession licensed by the Department of Education*, provide a general description of the principal subject areas of your practice. If you or your spouse practice with a firm or corporation and you are a partner or shareholder of the firm or corporation, provide a general description of the principal subject areas of matters undertaken by such firm or corporation. Do not list the name of the individual clients, customers or patients.
a.
Your Position
Description of Principal Subject Areas
b.
Spouse's Position
Description of Principal Subject Area
* The following professions are licensed by the Department of Education: Medicine; Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistants; Physician's Assistants and Special Assistants; Chiropractic; Dentistry and Dental Hygiene; Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Technology; Pharmacy; Nursing; Podiatry, Ophthalmic Dispensing; Engineering and Land Surveys; Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Public Accountancy; Shorthand Reporting; Psychology; Social Work, Massage; Occupational Therapy; and Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; describe in general terms the principal subject areas of your practice.
12.
a.
If you are a member of the Town Board, Board of Assessment Review, Architectural Review Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Housing Authority or Licensing Review Board, or if you are regular legal counsel to one or more of the aforementioned boards, please list the names of any clients or customers who have applications currently pending before your board and/or who have had applications pending before your board within the last 12 months.
b.
With regard to the persons listed in 11.a., please describe the services rendered by you to said persons.
13.
List any appearance you or your spouse made before a Town agency or Board, representing a private interest, or any appearance made by you in any litigation brought against the Town in the past year.
a.
List for yourself:
NAME OF BOARD, AGENCY OR COURT APPEARED BEFORE
NAME OF LITIGATION, APPLICATION OR TOPIC REGARDING YOUR APPEARANCE
TYPE OF WORK PERFORMED
b.
List for your spouse:
NAME OF BOARD, AGENCY OR COURT APPEARED BEFORE
NAME OF LITIGATION, APPLICATION OR TOPIC REGARDING YOUR APPEARANCE
TYPE OF WORK PERFORMED
14.
List any financial interest of yours or your spouse's in the sale of a service or the sale of personal property or real property to the town.
a.
List for yourself:
NAME OF SERVICE OR PROPERTY
(list map number if applicable)
DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION
b.
List for your spouse:
NAME OF SERVICE OR PROPERTY
(list map number if applicable)
DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION
I have read the foregoing and swear under penalty of perjury that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information I have given and the conditions to which I have agreed are true.
Signature
Please Print Name
Sworn to before me this day
of,            199 .
Notary Public
[Amended 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
A. 
As provided in § 813 of General Municipal Law, the records of the Board of Ethics which shall be available for public inspection are:
(1) 
The information set forth in an annual statement of financial disclosure filed pursuant to this chapter, except the categories of value or amount, which shall remain confidential, and any other item of information deleted pursuant to § 25-11G, as the case may be.
(2) 
Notices of delinquency sent pursuant to § 25-11I.
(3) 
Notices of reasonable cause sent pursuant to § 25-11J(4).
(4) 
Notices of civil assessment sent pursuant to § 25-11J(5).
B. 
An annual statement of financial disclosure shall be available for public inspection on or after the first day of March of each year or after 30 days of submission of such statement, whichever shall occur later.
C. 
Whenever an application for public inspection of financial disclosure statements is made, the Town Clerk shall provide a copy of such application to the municipal officer, appointee or employee whose statement is sought. The procedure for responding to such application for public inspection shall be that set forth in Article 7 of the Public Officers Law.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
[Amended 12-21-2021 by L.L. No. 26-2021]
Nothing herein shall be deemed to bar or prevent the timely filing by a present or former municipal officer or employee of any claim, account, demand or suit against the Town of East Hampton, or any agency thereof on behalf of himself, herself, or any member of his or her family arising out of any personal injury or property damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law.
[Added 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any individual who knowingly and willfully fails to file an annual statement of financial disclosure, or who knowingly or willfully, with intent to deceive, makes a false statement or gives information which such individual knows to be false on such statement of financial disclosure, or who is determined to have knowingly and willfully violated this Code of Ethics, may be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000, may be suspended, dismissed, removed from office or employment, or otherwise disciplined, as the case may be, in the manner provided by law; provided, however, that no penalty may be imposed hereunder or under any other provision of the law in the event any amount or category of value which may be set forth in a financial disclosure statement is incorrect unless such reported information is knowingly understated.
[Added 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, said invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application of the chapter.
[Added 10-1-1993 by L.L. No. 29-1993]
This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State as provided by law.