[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Larchmont 8-10-1970 by L.L. No. 1-1970. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Disciplinary proceedings — See Ch. 21.
Official newspaper — See Ch. 29.
The proper operation of the village government requires that its officers and employees be independent, impartial, objective, unbiased and responsible to the people of the Village of Larchmont; that public office not be used for personal gain; that public officers and employees maintain the highest standards of integrity and discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations; and that the public have confidence in the officers and employees thereof. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established, pursuant to § 806 of the General Municipal Law, a Code of Ethics for all officers and employees of the village. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this code and the provisions of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law,[1] the latter shall control.
[1]
Editor's Note: Article 18 is entitled "Conflicts of Interest of Municipal Officers and Employees."
When used herein, and unless otherwise expressly stated or unless the context requires, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
INTEREST
Any claim, account or demand against or agreement with the village, express or implied, including designation of a depository of public funds and the designation of an official newspaper and direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to an officer or employee as the result of a business or professional transaction with the village. For the purposes of this chapter, an officer or employee shall be deemed to have a direct interest in the affairs of:
A. 
His/her spouse, minor children and dependents.
B. 
A business concern, partnership or association of which such officer or employee is a member, partner, owner, director or employee.
C. 
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director or employee.
D. 
A corporation, any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee.
OFFICER or EMPLOYEE
The Mayor, Trustees and any officer or employee of the village, whether paid or not, including members of any administrative board, commission or other agency thereof. For the purposes of this chapter, no person shall be deemed a village officer or employee solely by reason of being a volunteer fireman or civil defense volunteer.
VILLAGE
The Village of Larchmont or any of its boards, commissions or agencies, whether operated solely by the Village of Larchmont or jointly with one or more other municipalities.
No officer or employee of the village, either directly or indirectly, shall have any interest in or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity or incur any obligation of any nature or accept other employment which is in conflict with, or might reasonably tend to conflict with, the proper discharge of his or her duties as an officer or employee of the village.
Any member of the Board of Trustees of the village who has a direct or indirect financial or other interest in any matter before such Board of Trustees, or any officer or employee who has a direct or indirect financial or other interest in any matter before such Board and who participates in any discussion before or make a recommendation to or gives an opinion to such Board on that matter, shall publicly disclose on the official record of such Board the nature and extent of such interest.
No officer or employee shall accept any valuable consideration, whether in the form of service, loan, thing, promise or any other form, from any person, organization or business concern which, to his or her knowledge, is interested directly or indirectly in any business dealings with the village.
An officer or employee of the village shall abstain from making personal investments in enterprises which he or she has reason to believe may be directly involved in decisions to be made by him or her or which will otherwise create conflict between his or her public duty and his or her private interest and shall refrain from passing upon any questions in which he or she or any member of his or her immediate family has an interest which might reasonably be deemed to create such a conflict.
A. 
No officer or employee of the village shall accept employment or engage in any business or professional activity which will require him or her to disclose confidential information which he or she has gained by reason of his or her official position or authority.
B. 
No officer or employee of the village shall disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the course of his or her official duties or use such information to further his or her personal interests or the private interests of others.
No officer or employee of the village shall accept other employment which will impair his or her independence of judgment in the exercise of his or her official duties.
No officer or employee of the village shall use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or herself or others or grant any special consideration, treatment or advantage to any citizens beyond that which is available to every other citizen.
A. 
No officer or employee of the village shall direct or cause any officer or employee of the village to do or perform any service or work outside of public work or employment, or accept any such service or work, nor shall any officer or employee of the village offer to perform any such service or work for such officer or employee.
B. 
No officer or employee of the village shall request or permit the use of village-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or are provided as village policy for the use of such officer or employee in the conduct of official business.
No officer or employee of this village shall solicit, negotiate for or promise to accept present or future employment from any person, firm or corporation with which he or she or his or her department, office or agency is engaged on behalf of the village in the transaction of business.
No officer or employee of the village or service or other organization chartered by or directly or indirectly sponsored or supported by the village shall:
A. 
Discriminate or cause involuntary segregation, directly or indirectly, based upon creed, color, sex, age or national origin or allow the preceding to be factors affecting the recruitment, selection, placement, assignment, compensation or promotion of any officer, employee or member of such service or other organization.
[Amended 9-14-1987 by L.L. No. 4-1987]
B. 
Permit, directly or indirectly, the use of any village property, equipment or services by any person or persons, organizations, corporations or any other group which directly or indirectly discriminates as set forth in Subsection A above.
C. 
Allow the village knowingly to have any financial or business dealings with any organization which discriminates as set forth in Subsection A above.
The Clerk of the village shall cause a copy of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the village.
A. 
There is hereby constituted a Board of Ethics of the village, to consist of three members, none of whom shall be members of the Board of Trustees of the village and none of whom shall be officers or employees of the village. All members shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees.
[Amended 10-3-1988 by L.L. No. 4-1988]
B. 
The members of the Board of Ethics shall receive no salary or compensation for their services as members of such Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees.
C. 
The Board of Ethics shall establish its own rules of procedure and may recommend such penalties for violations of this chapter and of the rules and regulations for employees of the Village of Larchmont as it determines, including removal from office or employment or other action as provided by the Laws of the State of New York.
D. 
The Board of Ethics shall render advisory opinions to officers and employees of the village with respect to this Code of Ethics. Such advisory opinions shall be rendered pursuant to the written request of any officer or employee of the village, under such rules and regulations as the Board of Ethics may prescribe.