A County officer or employee shall not use his or her official
position or office to take or fail to take any action in a manner
which he or she knows or has reason to know may result in a personal
financial benefit for any of the following persons:
A. The County officer or employee;
B. His or her outside employer or business;
C. A member of his or her household;
E. A person from whom the officer or employee has received election
campaign contributions of more than $1,000 in the aggregate during
the past 12 months.
No County officer or employee may acquire or retain the following
investments:
A. Investments that can be reasonably expected to require more than sporadic recusal and abstention under §
40-14 of this Code; or
B. Investments that would otherwise impair the person's independence
of judgment in the exercise or performance of his or her official
powers and duties.
No County officer or employee, during his or her tenure as a
County officer or employee, may engage in any private employment,
including the rendition of any business, commercial, professional
or other types of services, when the employment:
A. Can be reasonably expected to require more than sporadic recusal and abstention pursuant to §
40-14 of this Code;
B. Can be reasonably expected to require disclosure or use of confidential
information gained by reason of serving as a County officer or employee;
C. Violates § 805-a(1)(c) or (d) of the General Municipal
Law; or
D. Requires representation of a person or organization other than the
municipality in connection with litigation, negotiations or any other
matter to which the municipality is a party.
For a period of one year after the termination of service or
employment with the County, no former officer or employee, on his
or her own behalf, or as an employee, agent or representative of another
may appear before the Cayuga County Legislature in relation to any
action, proceeding, or application in which he/she personally obtained
confidential information during the period of his/her service or employment
or that was under his/her active consideration. Said one-year prohibition
may be waived by the County Legislature for good cause upon written
application by such officer or employee.
No County officer or employee who acquires confidential information
in the course of exercising or performing their official powers or
duties may disclose or use such information unless the disclosure
or use is required by law or in the course of exercising or performing
his or her official powers and duties.
Section
40-20 does not prohibit any other gift, including:
A. Gifts made to the municipality;
B. Gifts from a person with a family or personal relationship with the
officer or employee when the circumstances make it clear that the
personal relationship, rather than the recipient's status as
a County officer or employee, is the primary motivating factor for
the gift;
C. Gifts given on special occasions, such as marriage, illness, or retirement,
which are modest, reasonable and customary;
D. Unsolicited advertising or promotional material of little intrinsic
value, such as pens, pencils, note pads, and calendars;
E. Awards and plaques having a value of $75 or less which are publicly
presented in recognition of service as a County officer or employee,
or other services to the community; or
F. Meals and refreshments provided when a County officer or employee
is a speaker or participant at a job-related professional or educational
conference or program and the meals and refreshments are made available
to all participants.
A County officer or employee shall not appear before the Cayuga
County Legislature, except on their own behalf or in their capacity
as employee of the County in furtherance of their official duties.
A County officer or employee shall not represent any person
or entity in any matter that person has before the County nor represent
any person in any matter against the interest of the County except:
A. Legislators within their scope as representatives of their constitutes
and districts; and
B. Attorney's employed by the County in performing their official
duties.
Except as otherwise required by law:
A. No County officer or employee, either individually or as a member
of a board, may participate in any decision specifically to appoint,
hire, promote, discipline or discharge a relative for any position
at, for or within the municipality or a municipal board.
B. No County officer or employee may directly or indirectly supervise
a relative in the performance of the relative's official powers
or duties unless such supervision is reported and approved by the
Department of Human Resources and the appropriate Chair of the Legislative
Oversight Committee.
County officers or employees shall not knowingly acquire, solicit,
negotiate for, or accept any interest, employment, or other things
of value which would place them in violation of this Ethics Code.
A County officer or employee shall not induce or aid another
officer or employee of the County to violate any of the provisions
of this Ethics Code.