[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:
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:
His/her spouse, minor children and dependents.
A business concern, partnership or association of which such officer
or employee is a member, partner, owner, director or employee.
A corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director
or employee.
A corporation, any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or
indirectly by such 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.
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]
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.
