Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal
Law, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Endicott recognizes that there
are rules of ethical conduct for public officers and employees which must
be observed if a high degree of moral conduct is to be obtained and if public
confidence is to be maintained in our unit of local government. It is the
purpose of this chapter to promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for the
officers and employees of the Village of Endicott These rules shall serve
as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Village
of Endicott The rules of ethical conduct of this chapter, as adopted, shall
not conflict with, but shall be in addition to, any prohibition of Article
18 of the General Municipal Law or any other general or special law relating
to ethical conduct and interest in the contracts of municipal officers and
employees.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
INTEREST
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a Village officer or
employee or to a Village officer's or employee's spouse, minor children
and dependents; a firm, partnership or association of which such officer or
employee is a member or employee; a corporation of which such officer or employee
is an officer or director; or a corporation, any stock of which is accrued
or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee.
VILLAGE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Village of Endicott, whether paid or
unpaid, including members of any administrative board, commission or other
agency thereof. No person shall be deemed to be a "Village officer or employee"
solely by reason of being a volunteer fireman or civil defense volunteer,
except as Chief Engineer or Assistant Chief Engineer.
Every officer or employee of the Village of Endicott shall be subject
to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. Gifts. No officer or employee of the Village, whether
paid or unpaid, shall directly or indirectly solicit, accept or receive any
gift or gratuity, whether in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment
or any other form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred
that the gift was intended to influence him, or could reasonably be expected
to influence him, in the performances of his official duties or was intended
as a reward for any official action on his part, from any person, firm or
corporation which is directly or indirectly related in any manner whatsoever
in any business or professional transaction or dealing with the Village or
any agency thereof.
B. Confidential information. He shall not disclose confidential
information acquired by him in the course of his official duties or use such
information to further his personal interest.
C. Representation before one's own agency. He shall
not receive or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation
for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any Village agency
of which he is an officer, member or employee or of any Village agency over
which he has jurisdiction or to which he has the power to appoint any member,
officer or employee.
D. Representation before any agency of officers or employees
of the Village. He shall not receive or enter into any agreement, express
or implied, for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any
matter before any agency of the Village.
E. Disclosure of interest in legislation. To the extent
that he knows thereof, a member of the Board of Trustees and any officer or
employee of the Village of Endicott, whether paid or unpaid, who participates
in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Board of Trustees on any
legislation before the Village Board or any board, agency, department or other
administrative unit of the Village of Endicott shall publicly disclose on
the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial
or other private interest he has in such legislation.
F. Investments in conflict with official duties. He shall
not invest or hold any investment directly or indirectly in any financial,
business, commercial or other private transaction which creates a conflict
with his official duties.
G. Private employment He shall not engage in, solicit, negotiate
for or promise to accept private employment or render services for private
interests when such employment or service creates a conflict with or impairs
the proper discharge of his official duties.
H. Future employment. He shall not, after the termination
of service or employment with the Village, appear before any board, agency,
department or other administrative unit of the Village of Endicott in relation
to any case, proceeding or application in which he personally participated
during the period of his service or employment or which was under his active
consideration.
I. Use of Village property. He shall not, directly or indirectly,
use or allow the use of property of any kind owned by the Village of Endicott,
including property leased to the Village, for other than official business.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to bar or prevent the timely filing by
a present or former Village officer or employee of any claim, account, demand
or suit against the Village of Endicott, or any agency thereof, on behalf
of himself or any member of his family arising out of any personal injury
or property damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law.
The Mayor of the Village of Endicott shall cause a copy of this Code
of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Village of
Endicott within 30 days after the effective date of this chapter. Each officer
and employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished a copy before
entering upon the duties of his office or employment.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law,
any person who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions
of this code may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment,
as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.