[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Niskayuna 3-19-1981 as L.L. No. 1-1981. Section 11-4 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Ethics — See Ch. 17.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 27.
[Amended 7-9-1981 by L.L. No. 4-1981]
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EMPLOYEE
Any person holding a position by election, appointment or employment in the service of the Town, but shall not include a volunteer, any person not compensated for his services or an independent contractor, except that members of the Niskayuna Zoning Board of Appeals shall be included within the meaning of the term "employee." The term "employee" shall include a former employee, his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
TOWN
The Town of Niskayuna.
A. 
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 11-3 of this chapter, the Town shall provide for the defense of the employee in any civil action or proceeding in any state or federal court arising out of any alleged act or omission which occurred or is alleged in the complaint to have occurred while the employee was acting or in good faith purporting to act within the scope of his public employment or duties. Such defense shall not be provided where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Town, nor shall such defense be provided for any person who willfully or maliciously committed an act of wrongdoing which resulted in or contributed to a civil action or proceeding.
[Amended 7-9-1981 by L.L. No. 4-1981]
B. 
Subject to the conditions set forth in this chapter, the employee shall be represented by the Town Attorney or an attorney employed or retained by the Town for the defense of the employee. The Town Board shall employ or retain an attorney for the defense of the employee whenever the Town does not have a Town Attorney; the Town Board determines, based upon its investigation and review of the facts and circumstances of the case, that representation by the Town Attorney would be inappropriate; or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a conflict of interest exists and that the employee cannot be represented by the Town Attorney. Reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses shall be paid by the Town to such attorney employed or retained, from time to time, during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding, subject to certification by the Town Board that the employee is entitled to representation under the terms and conditions of this chapter. Payment of such fees and expenses shall be made in the same manner as payment of other claims and expenses of the Town. Any dispute with respect to representation of multiple employees by the Town Attorney or by an attorney employed or retained for such purposes or with respect to the amount of the fees or expenses shall be resolved by the court.
C. 
Where the employee delivers process and a request for a defense to the Town Attorney or the Town Supervisor as required by § 11-3 of this chapter, the Town Attorney or the Supervisor, as the case may be, shall take the necessary steps, including the retention of an attorney under the terms and conditions provided in Subsection B of this section, on behalf of the employee to avoid entry of a default judgment, pending resolution of any question relating to the obligation of the Town to provide a defense.
The duties to defend provided in this chapter shall be contingent upon delivery to the Town Attorney or, if none, to the Town Supervisor of the original or a copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading within five days after he is served with such document and the full cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action or proceeding and defense of any action or proceeding against the Town based upon the same act or omission and in the prosecution of any appeal. Such delivery shall be deemed a request by the employee that the Town provide for his defense pursuant to this chapter, unless the employee shall state in writing that a defense is not requested.
The benefits of this chapter will inure only to employees as defined herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any other party, nor shall any provision of this chapter be construed to affect, alter or repeal any provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
As otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed in any way to impair, alter, limit, modify, abrogate or restrict any immunity available to or conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the Town or any right to defense provided for any governmental officer or employee by, in accordance with or by reason of any other provision of state or federal statutory or common law.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all actions and proceedings specified herein which have been commenced, instituted or brought on or after the effective date of this chapter.