[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Woodsburgh 3-20-1989
as L.L. No. 9-1989. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing either directly or indirectly
to an officer or employee, unless the context otherwise requires. A pecuniary
or material benefit accruing directly or indirectly to a parent, spouse or
child of an officer or employee or a relative of any such person within the
third degree of consanguinity shall be deemed to be an "interest" of such
officer or employee.
Any person holding any position with the village, whether paid or
unpaid.
The Village of Woodsburgh.
Every officer and employee of the village shall be subject to and abide
by the following standards of conduct:
A.Â
Gifts. No officer or employee of the village shall directly
or indirectly solicit, receive or accept any gift, whether in the form of
money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise
or in any other form, under any circumstances in which it could be reasonably
inferred that the gift was intended to influence such officer or employee
in the performance of official duties or as a reward for any official action
on the part of such officer or employee.
B.Â
Confidential information. No officer or employee shall
disclose any confidential information acquired in the course of the officer
or employee's official duties nor use such information to further an
interest of such officer or employee.
C.Â
Representation. No officer or employee shall receive
or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for any compensation for
services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any agency of the
village, except compensation provided by the village.
D.Â
Disclosure.
(1)Â
To the extent known, every officer and employee who participates
in any matter before any Board or agency of the village or gives official
opinion to any such Board or agency shall publicly disclose on the record
the nature and extent of any interest which such officer or employee has in
any such matter.
(2)Â
Every officer and employee shall disclose to the Village
Clerk, in writing, all real property in which such officer or employee has
an interest, which property is located within the village or within 500 feet
of the boundary of the village, and any interest in any other business transaction
which creates or may create a conflict with the official duties of such officer
or employee. In the event that such a conflict shall appear which was not
previously so reported, the officer or employee shall forthwith report such
conflict. The Village Clerk shall provide each officer and employee, at the
beginning of each official year or at the commencement of such officer or
employee's employment if during an official year, with a form for the
purposes of disclosing the information required by this chapter.
E.Â
Private employment. No officer or employee shall engage
in, solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept any position of employment
nor render services for any private interest when such employment or service
would create a conflict with or impair the proper discharge of such officer
or employee's official duties.
F.Â
Future employment. No officer or employee shall, after
the termination of service or employment with the village, appear before any
village board or agency in relation to any case, matter, proceeding or application
in which such officer or employee personally participated during the course
of such officer or employee's service or employment or which was under
the active consideration of such officer or employee; provided, however, that
this chapter shall not prevent any such person from so appearing on behalf
of the village.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to bar or prevent the timely
filing by any person of any claim, account, demand or suit against the village
arising out of any personal injury or property damage or for any lawful benefit
to which such person may be entitled.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics to consist of three members
who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Board of Trustees
and who shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the Board
of Trustees. A majority of such members shall be persons who are not officers
or employees of the village. The Board of Ethics shall have the powers and
duties prescribed by Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and may render
advisory opinions to any officer or employee with respect to the provisions
of this chapter and Article 18 of the General Municipal Law. The Board of
Ethics may consult with the Village Attorney, in its discretion, on any matter
within its jurisdiction.
The Village Clerk shall distribute a copy of this chapter to every officer
and employee within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter. Each officer
and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished with a copy
of this chapter upon entering upon the duties of such officer or employment.
In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who knowingly
and intentionally violates the provisions of this chapter may be suspended
or removed from office or employment, as the case may be, in the manner provided
by law.
