[Ord. No. 91-1 §§ 1, 2, and 3; amended in its entirety 3-5-2026]
[3-5-2026]
This section shall be known as and referred to as "The Brooklyn Code of Ethics."
[3-5-2026]
a.
The proper operation of the municipal government of the Town of Brooklyn requires that all public officials and public employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid, shall be impartial and responsive to the public interest; that public office and employment should not be used for personal gain or advantage; and that the public have confidence in the integrity of municipal government. Public officials and public employees should not place themselves in positions where their private interests conflict with their public duty. Public service requires public trust.
[3-5-2026]
a.
The Board of Ethics shall consist of five members, no more than two may be registered to the same political party. Members shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Selectmen. All members shall be electors of the Town of Brooklyn. No member of the Board of Selectmen may serve on the Board of Ethics, and no member of the Board of Ethics may serve as an officer of any political party or political committee; however, membership on a political committee shall not be a bar to service on the Board of Ethics. Removal from the Board of Ethics shall only be made by a majority vote of the Board of Selectmen, for cause shown after a hearing, which may be held in public session if requested by the member.
b.
The term of office of each member shall be three years, arranged so that not more than two terms shall expire within any 12-month period. Members in office as of the effective date of this amendment may continue in office for the duration of their terms. Vacancies shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen for the unexpired portion of the term in which the vacancy occurs.
c.
At its first regular meeting of each new calendar year the Board shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among its members and adopt such rules of procedure as may conform to state law and to the provisions of this section.
[3-5-2026]
The Board shall render advisory opinions concerning the applicability of this section to a specified circumstance upon written request. All such opinions may be public records, but personal information may be redacted prior to being made public.
[3-5-2026]
a.
The Board shall receive complaints of alleged violations of this Code of Ethics alleged to have occurred and process such complaints in conformity with the rules of procedure of the Board, hear and record testimony under oath, require the attendance of witnesses by subpoena and close its proceedings to the public. The Board may issue subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum, enforceable upon application to the Superior Court, to compel the attendance of persons at hearings and the production of books, documents, records and papers.
b.
If the Board determines that a violation has occurred, it shall file a memorandum of its decision and recommend what action should be taken by the party having disciplinary authority over the violator.
c.
Recommendations may include reprimand, public censure, termination or suspension of employment, or termination or suspension of appointive office.
d.
In cases where the alleged violation may also constitute a violation of criminal law, the Board shall make a referral to the state prosecutor forthwith and suspend further action until allowed by the prosecutorial authority.
[3-5-2026]
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated and stated.
Means the Town of Brooklyn Board of Ethics. Other Town boards and commissions will be specifically identified by their proper names or referenced by their functions.
Means any activity involving a transfer of value for goods or services.
Means those days the Town Hall offices are available to the public.
Means a person's regular occupation, profession or trade.
Means the evidence supports the allegation that the respondent had violated the Code of Ethics, when considered fairly and impartially, and induces a reasonable belief in the minds of the Ethics Board that the allegations are true. Said evidence must indicate to said members that the probability that the respondent has committed a violation is substantially greater than the probability he or she has not.
Means information concerning prospective actions by the employees, officers, boards, and/or commissions of the Town of Brooklyn, which have not been made public by the officer, board or commission proposing such action.
Means a transfer of goods, services or money to any Town officer or employee without a reciprocal transfer by such person of equivalent value.
Means a natural person.
Means any business transaction in excess of $100 between the Town and any other person.
Means the provisions of goods or services not money.
Means, in addition to an individual, corporations, companies and groups of individuals having associated themselves for a common purpose.
Means an interest in which an action by the Town results in a benefit or detriment to a person.
Means the content, information, articles, pictures, videos or any other form of communication posted on a Town social media site.
Means determining whether the facts would warrant a reasonable person to believe that a violation of the Code has occurred; the belief should be more than a mere suspicion, but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Means doing business with or seeking official action from public officials or employees.
Means a person receiving payment from the Town for services.
Means an elected or appointed individual having discretionary and/or supervisory powers over Town business, including candidates for Town elective offices.
Means any municipal officer or employee shall withdraw themselves from consideration, deliberation and action on a matter when he or she knows or has reason to know that the action could confer a direct or indirect financial or material benefit on himself or herself, a relative, or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest.
Means the spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, stepparent, and stepchild of an individual, and their respective spouses.
Means a legal paper requiring someone to attend and/or produce documents or records for a trial.
Means social media sites and content which the Town establishes and maintains, with the exception of content from advertisements or hyperlinks provided by the Town's social media site's owners, vendors, or partners. Town social media sites do not replace the Town's required notices and standard methods of communication.
[3-5-2026]
a.
No public official or employee shall engage in any business or transaction or have a personal, immediate family or business interest, directly or indirectly, which is in conflict with or incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties or that by creating a divided loyalty might influence or impair his or her independence of judgment and action in the performance of said duties. A conflict of interest exists whenever a public official or employee will more likely than not benefit, disproportionately from other citizens of the Town of Brooklyn, directly or indirectly, from a decision over which they have influence.
[3-5-2026]
a.
A public official or Town employee with a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest has an obligation to disclose such conflict or potential conflict so that the Town will have a permanent record of such disclosure and recusal and shall abstain from participating in the discussion and/or vote on the matter raising such conflict.
b.
In the case of a person serving in an elective office, the disclosure shall be filed with the Town Clerk of the Town of Brooklyn. In all other cases, the disclosure shall be filed with the person's supervisor or, if the person does not have a supervisor, the disclosure shall be filed with the municipal public official, employee or board having the power to appoint to the person's position. In addition, in the case of a person serving on a municipal board, a copy of the disclosure shall be filed with the board. Any disclosure made to a board shall be made publicly at a meeting of the board and must be included in the minutes of the meeting.
[3-5-2026]
Public officials and employees are prohibited from the following:
a.
Representing and advocating for any person, other than the Town, before the Town board, agency or commission of which he or she is a member or employee.
b.
Representing and advocating for any person before any Town board, agency or commission without disclosing to that Town board, agency or commission the fact of compensation for such representation, and also shall abstain from participation, including, but not limited to, discussion and/or voting, on the matter.
c.
Appearing as a member of any Town board, agency or commission, before any other Town board, agency or commission and representing or advocating for any person, other than the Town and/or the Town board, agency or commission of which he or she is a member.
d.
Representing and advocating for any person in opposition to the Town in any matter pending before any court or administrative body.
[3-5-2026]
Public officials and employees are prohibited from the following:
a.
Using or permitting the use of Town funds, equipment, vehicles or other property for personal convenience or profit, except in the same circumstances and to the same extent that such are available to the public, in general.
[3-5-2026]
Public officials and employees are prohibited from the following:
a.
Disclosing confidential information as defined in this section.
b.
A public official or employee shall not attempt to influence any other public official or employee about any matter before any Town agency from which said public official or employee would be likely to gain or lose a material benefit that is not common to the general interest of other citizens of the Town.
c.
A public official or employee shall not disclose Town information other than in accordance with established Town procedure where it is reasonably foreseeable that disclosure of the information will permit the public official or employee or any other person to obtain a material benefit that is not common to the general interest of other citizens of the Town.
d.
A public official or employee shall not use information concerning the property or governmental affairs of the Town, other than that which is generally available to the public, for the purpose of advancing the personal interest of himself or herself through the use of electronic applications such as social media and Town social media sites and posts.
e.
Public officials and public employees authorized to post items on any of the Town's social media sites shall not express their personal views or concerns through such postings or represent that such personal views represent or reflect the views or position of the Town.
[3-5-2026]
Public officials and employees are prohibited from the following:
a.
Hiring any relative or influencing any other public official or employee to hire any relative of a public official or employee unless the position has been advertised as available to members of the public, and the decision to hire an individual applicant is not influenced or made by the official or employee related to such applicant.
b.
Setting the rate of pay of any relative or influencing any other public official or employee to set the rate of pay of any relative who is a public official or employee.
c.
Deliberating or participating in a decision or action by the agency in which the individual is a member or is employed if said individual or any member of his or her immediate family or business with which he or she is associated would be likely to gain or lose a material benefit that is not common to the general interest of other citizens of the Town.
d.
Granting special consideration, treatment or advantage to any person beyond that which is generally available to other citizens of the Town.
e.
Receiving special consideration, treatment or advantage in any activity or business transaction in which the Town is a client or a customer beyond that which is generally available to other citizens of the Town.
[3-5-2026]
a.
Except as provided for by his or her office or under the terms of his or her employment, no public official or employee, or member of his or her immediate family, or business entity with which he or she is or has been associated, shall solicit or accept anything of value, including, but not limited to, a gift, service, loan, political contribution, or promise of future employment.
b.
No public official or employee may knowingly accept, nor may the spouse, child or parent of an public official or employee, or any person who resides in the household of a public official or employee, knowingly accept, with said public official's or employee's express or implied consent, anything having a value of $25 or more from a prohibited source, except as allowed by paragraph c below, and the aggregate value of all things received from that source by any such recipient in a calendar year shall not exceed $100. Each public official or employee shall be bound by this section for a period of one year after the public official or employee has left his or her position with the Town.
c.
The following gifts are specifically allowed:
1.
Transfers from immediate family members.
2.
Transfers, including meals and admission fees, valued at $25 or less on any one occasion, provided that the total for any 12-month period does not exceed $100.
3.
Transfers of goods, services or money for the immediate benefit of the Town, with the recipient official or employee acting merely as a conduit, and with full and immediate disclosure by the recipient of the fact of the transfer.
4.
A certificate, plaque, honorary degree or other ceremonial award made during a public event.
5.
Attendance at a public, governmental-sponsored or informational event generally accepted as a condition of office or employment, where food may be served and small souvenirs of the event, of a minor monetary value, which are not likely to influence the proper judgment or action of the public official or employee in a matter within his or her authority, may be distributed to all attendees.
[3-5-2026]
Public officials and employees are prohibited from the following:
a.
Engaging in any business transaction with the Town unless the transaction is being conducted pursuant to a request for a proposal, request for a quote and/or other equivalent public solicitation, with prior public notice or advertisement soliciting bids for the goods or services involved in such transaction. This provision shall also apply to former public employees and former public officials for the 12 months following termination of office and/or employment.
b.
Soliciting or accepting any gift, other than those specifically allowed in this Ethics Code.
c.
Participating in a transaction defined as a conflict of interest in this Ethics Code.
d.
Failing to disclose having a conflict of interest or having intention to engage in conduct likely to result in a conflict of interest.
[3-5-2026]
A public official or employee shall not accept, negotiate for or solicit future employment with any person who has a substantial matter pending before the agency in which the public official or employee is employed during said period of employment or during the period of time said public official holds office. A matter is "substantial" if it involves a financial value of $1,000 or more or involves a question of policy.
[3-5-2026]
An individual who has served as a public official or employee having discretionary responsibilities shall not, within one year after termination of his or her service:
a.
Assist any person, other than the Town, in any matter in which such individual substantially participated during his or her service.
b.
Represent and/or advocate for any person in opposition to the Town in any matter pending before any court or administrative body, in which matter such individual substantially participated during his or her service.
[3-5-2026]
a.
The procedures and forms for filing complaints shall be available in the office of the Town Clerk and the Town of Brooklyn website, Brooklynct.org.
[3-5-2026]
a.
The Town Clerk shall promptly cause a copy of this code to be posted publicly in each building under the Town's control.
b.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Town of Brooklyn shall cause a copy of this code be given to any and all public officials and employees of the Town.
c.
Any and all public officials and employees of the Town who receive a copy of this code shall acknowledge such receipt in writing, and such acknowledgements shall remain on file with the Town Clerk.
[3-5-2026]
These revisions to this section shall take effect 15 days after publication, as required by state law.
[Ord. No. 91-4 § 1; Ord. 7/16/12; amended 4-7-2022]
Purchases for the Town of Brooklyn shall be made under the following rules:
All purchases of goods or services shall be governed by and comply with the requirements of a written "Purchasing Procedure" to be adopted and amended from time to time by the Board of Selectmen, with the advice of the Board of Finance, provided that the maximum amount of a contract that may be let without Town approval at a Town Meeting be no more than $20,000 without amending this section.
[Ord. No. 07-01 § 1]
a.
The First Selectman as the Chief Executive Officer of the Town of Brooklyn is authorized to declare a local disaster emergency in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 28-8(a) and 28-1(8).
b.
Upon the declaration of a local disaster emergency by the First Selectman of the Town of Brooklyn, the First Selectman or his designee, and the local Emergency Management Director, shall exercise all powers and authority granted to the municipality and/or its Chief Executive Officer under Title 28 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
c.
In terms of serious disaster or civil emergency, the First Selectman of the Town of Brooklyn, or his designee, is authorized to activate the municipal Emergency Operation Center. The Commanding Officer of the Connecticut State Police — Troop D, the Chiefs of the municipal Fire Departments, the Director of the Northeast Department of Health, the Emergency Management Director, or their representatives, shall assist the First Selectman in evaluating the need for the declaration of a Local Disaster Emergency.
d.
In times of serious disaster or civil emergency, the First Selectman of the Town of Brooklyn, or his designee, will coordinate his or her responsive activities with the appropriate area coordinator from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
[Ord. No. 97-5 §§ 1-5; Ord. No. 08-01 §§ 3,4]
a.
Pursuant to the authority of Connecticut General Statutes 7-131r and 7-131q, there is hereby established the Brooklyn Land Acquisition Fund (hereinafter referenced to as the "Fund") to be used for the purposes of the preservation of open space or agricultural land, the acquisition of land (or any interest in land, including but not limited to easements and development rights) to be used for open space and for recreation or agricultural purposes. The Fund shall not lapse at the close of the municipal year.
b.
There shall be appropriated into the Fund such sums as the Town may appropriate for that purpose. There shall also be deposited into the Fund all payments in lieu of the provision of open space made pursuant to any regulations adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission under the authority of Connecticut General Statutes 8-25 and 8-25b, and any other funds acquired by the Town, whether by gift, bequest, grant or otherwise, for the purpose to be served by the Fund.
c.
Expenditures shall be made from the Land Acquisition Fund only in accordance with the following procedures and requirements:
1.
Expenditures shall be made exclusively for the appraisal, acquisition and preservation costs relating to the purchase of parcels of land or any easements, interests or rights therein, the use of which shall be limited to retention of the parcel in its natural condition or the protection of natural resources for passive recreational or agricultural purposes.
2.
Recommendations for the appropriation of funds to be used for the acquisition of any parcel and/or easement, right, or interest therein, including the sum to be expended, shall be approved by a vote of the Brooklyn Conservation Commission and forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission Board for a report in accordance with Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
3.
Following a report by the Planning and Zoning Commission and incorporation of any changes approved by the vote of the Conservation Commission, any recommendations for the appropriation of funds shall be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration and upon their approval, to the Board of Finance.
4.
Following the approval of such recommendation by the Board of Finance for the appropriation of funds, the Board of Selectmen shall schedule a duly-warned and noticed Town Meeting for consideration by the Town's legislative body.
5.
Upon recommendation of the Chair of the Conservation Commission, the Board of Selectmen shall have the authority to expend up to $6,000.00 from the land acquisition fund for each potential acquisition, the expenditure to be used to defray the expenses incurred in investigating the suitability of any parcel of land for acquisition by the Town of Brooklyn. Such expenses shall include but not be limited to payment for the services of real estate appraisers, soil scientists and environmental planners.
d.
Any monies generated from timber sales from Town-owned open space properties will be deposited into this fund.
[Ord. 8/1/13; Ord. 1/8/14]
Town Meeting approval shall be required before the Town of Brooklyn sells, leases or transfers any real property owned by the Town of Brooklyn.
[Ord. 8/1/13]
Pursuant to the provisions of § 7-157(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, any ordinance enacted by the Town of Brooklyn legislative body shall be published within 10 in summary form in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town. Each summary shall bear a disclaimer as follows. "This document is prepared for the benefit of the public, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation. This document does not represent the intent of the legislative body of the Town of Brooklyn for any purpose."
The Town Clerk shall make a copy of such ordinance available for public inspection and shall, upon request, mail a copy of the ordinance to any person requesting a copy at no charge to such person. Every ordinance, unless specifying a later date, shall become effective on the 15th day after such publication following passage of the ordinance. Any ordinance making or requiring an appropriation of funds must be published in full.
[Ord. 8/16/16]
Pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, the Tax Collector for the Town of Brooklyn is hereby authorized to retain payments in excess of the amount due provided the amount of the excess payment is less than $5.00.
[Ord. 8/16/16]
Pursuant to Section 12-144c of the Connecticut General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, the Tax Collector for the Town of Brooklyn hereby waives all taxes due in the amount less than $10.00 provided that the original bill does not exceed $10.00.