[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Pound Ridge 4-8-1965.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The proper administration of the government of the Town of Pound Ridge
requires its officers and employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or
unpaid, including members of any administrative boards, commissions or other
agencies, to be impartial and free from conflicts of interest in fulfilling
their public responsibilities. The purpose of this code is to state for these
officers and employees, and for the citizens of the Town, standards of conduct
necessary to assure this, in addition to standards prescribed in Article 18
of the General Municipal Law.
B.Â
No Town officer or employee shall engage in a business
transaction or have an interest, direct or indirect, including any arising
from a close personal, family, business or professional relationship which
is prohibited by Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
C.Â
Every Town officer and employee shall publicly disclose
in writing to the Town Board any actual or prospective interest he has in
any legislation before the Town Board or in any other matter before any Town
agency, as soon as he has knowledge of such actual or prospective interest.
Every such written disclosure shall be made part of and be set forth in the
official record of the proceedings of the Town Board. Every Town officer and
employee shall also publicly disclose any actual or prospective conflict of
interest (including without limitation any which arises from a present or
prior relationship with a person or entity which seeks to do business with
the Town or is affected by actions of any Town agency, officer or employee),
to the extent required by § 803 of Article 18 of the General Municipal
Law.
D.Â
No Town officer or employee shall represent any private
interest, person or entity (other than himself) before any Town agency or
court or in any transaction with the Town or an agency thereof.
No Town officer or employee shall use or permit the use of Town property,
including land, vehicles, equipment, materials and any other property, for
personal convenience or profit, except when such use is available to Town
citizens generally or is provided as a matter of Town policy.
No Town officer or employee shall disclose or use for profit, for himself
or others, information about the property, affairs or government of the Town
which is not generally available to Town citizens.
No Town officer or employee shall accept any gift or favor from any
person or entity having or seeking a contract with, or pecuniary or material
benefit from, the Town or any agency thereof.
A Town officer or employee shall treat all members of the public, whether
a person, firm, corporation or other organization, with equal consideration
and without special advantage.
[Amended 4-12-1979; 3-20-1980]
Every Town officer, whether elected or appointed, must serve the entire
community. No elected or appointed official or employee shall hold office
in a political party.
A.Â
A local Board of Ethics is hereby established, pursuant
to § 808 of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law, to be composed
of five members appointed by the Town Board. The members shall be selected
from present or past leaders of local civic, religious or educational organizations,
except that the Town Attorney shall be a member ex officio and no other Town
officer shall be eligible. At least one member shall not belong to the major
political party of the Town Board. The members of the local Board of Ethics
shall receive no compensation as members and shall serve at the pleasure of
the Town Board.
B.Â
The local Board of Ethics shall render advisory opinions
to Town officers and employees with respect to Article 18 of the General Municipal
Law and this Code of Ethics. Such advisory opinions shall be rendered pursuant
to the written request of any such officer or employee under such rules and
regulations as the local Board of Ethics may deem advisable and shall have
the approval of the Town Attorney. In addition, the local Board of Ethics
shall have such other powers and duties as shall be provided by or pursuant
to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
C.Â
The Supervisor's office shall cause a copy of the
Code of Ethics of the Town of Pound Ridge to be distributed to every officer
and employee of the Town. Each officer and employee elected or appointed after
the effective date of this addition to this local Code of Ethics shall be
furnished with a copy of such code before entering upon the duties of his
office or employment.
[Added 10-9-1975]
D.Â
Within 60 days of the distribution of the aforementioned
Code of Ethics, a disclosure statement in the form annexed shall be executed
and returned by each officer and employee to the Town Clerk's office
for file.
[Added 10-9-1975]
A violation of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law or any provision
of this Code of Ethics shall be grounds for suspension, removal from office
or employment or such other lawful disciplinary action as the Town Board considers
advisable. A willful violation of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law
is a misdemeanor under the law.
When used in this code, and unless the context otherwise requires, the
words defined in § 800 of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law
shall have the meanings therein stated.
This Code of Ethics is adopted by ordinance pursuant to § 806
of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
