The Town Board of the Town of Van Buren recognizes
that there are 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.
In the light of a tendency today on the part of some people to downgrade
our local governments and to discredit our public servants and our
free institutions generally, it appears necessary that every effort
be made to assure the highest caliber of public administration of
this town as part of our state's important system of local government.
It is the purpose of this chapter to implement this objective through
the establishment of standards of conduct to provide for punishment
of violation of such standards and to create a Board of Ethics to
render advisory opinions to the town's officers and employees as provided
for herein.
The standards and prohibited acts and procedures
established herein are in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts
of interest, provisions or procedures prescribed by statutes of the
State of New York and also in addition to common law rules and judicial
decisions relating to the conduct of town officers to the extent that
the same are more severe in their application than this chapter.
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 Van Buren.
TOWN EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town of Van Buren, whether
paid or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time, seasonal
or advisory capacity, whether elected, appointed or hired.
[Amended 1-4-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
No town employee shall have any interest, financial
or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction
or professional activity or incur any obligation of any nature, which
is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties
in the public interest.
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 Van Buren,
or any agency thereof on behalf of himself or any member of his family
arising out of any personal injury or property damage or for any lawful
benefit authorized or permitted by law.
In addition to any penalty contained in any
other provision of law, any such town employee who shall knowingly
and intentionally violate any of the provisions of this chapter may
be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment in the manner
provided by law.