The Town Board of the Town of New Hartford recognizes that there are
state 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, prohibited acts and procedures established herein are
in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions or procedures
prescribed by statute 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 New Hartford.
TOWN EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Town of New Hartford, whether paid
or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
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.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law,
any 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.