This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Cayuga County Ethics Code."
A. 
The Legislature of the County of Cayuga finds that the vast majority of County officers and employees serve their constituents honestly and zealously. County officers and employees must also recognize that in a democratic society, even the appearance of impropriety may significantly undermine the public's confidence in the officials who serve them.
B. 
The Legislature further finds that an effective ethics code for County officers and employees should improve both the perception and the reality of integrity in local government and should also encourage, not discourage, citizens from participating in that government. This chapter seeks to fulfill those goals.
The purposes of this chapter are:
A. 
To establish high standards of ethical conduct for officers and employees of Cayuga County;
B. 
To afford officers and employees of the County clear guidance on such standards;
C. 
To promote public confidence in the integrity of the governance and administration of the County and its agencies and administrative offices;
D. 
To facilitate consideration of potential ethical problems before they arise, minimize unwarranted suspicion, and enhance the accountability of government to the people by requiring a disclosure of financial interests that may influence or be perceived to influence the actions of County officers or employees; and
E. 
To provide for the fair and effective administration of the Ethics Code.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to § 806 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York 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. This chapter also supplements other provisions of law regulating ethics in local government, such as § 107 of the Civil Service Law of the State of New York.
A. 
To the extent this chapter is inconsistent with the provisions of § 808 of the General Municipal Law, this chapter shall supersede those provisions.
B. 
The Cayuga County Code of Ethics and Code of Board found in Resolution Nos. 122-18, 249-12, and 70-60 are hereby rescinded in their entirety by this chapter.
The Cayuga County Legislature hereby enacts the "Cayuga County Ethics Code" as provided in Part 2 of this chapter.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this chapter or Ethics Code shall be adjudged by any court of complete jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
A. 
Within 30 business days of the effective date of this chapter, the Chair of the Legislature shall cause a copy of the Cayuga County Ethics Code and disclosure requirements set forth herein to be distributed to every officer and employee of the County. Thereafter, a copy of this chapter and disclosure requirements shall be provided to each new officer or employee within 10 business days of employment or assuming office as the case may be.
(1) 
Failure to distribute any such copy or failure to any County officer or employee to receive such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this chapter, nor the enforcement of provisions hereof.
B. 
Within 30 business days of the effective date of this chapter, the Chair of the Legislature shall cause a summary of the Cayuga County Ethics Code and disclosure requirements set forth herein to be posted conspicuously in every public building under the jurisdiction of the County.
(1) 
Failure to so post this chapter and Ethics Code shall have no effect on the duty of compliance herewith, nor the enforcement of provisions hereof.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State and in compliance with all applicable provisions of law.