[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Ossining 6-23-1981 by L.L. No. 3-1981. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Code of Ethics — See Ch. 20.
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. The term "employee" shall include a former employee, his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
TOWN
The Town of Ossining.
A. 
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 17-3 of this chapter, the town shall provide for the defense of the employee and shall save harmless and indemnify said employee from financial loss 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 and indemnification shall not be provided where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the town.
[Amended 12-22-1998 by L.L. No. 7-1998]
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 Supervisor 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 § 17-3 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.
[Amended 12-22-1998 by L.L. No. 7-1998]
A. 
The duties to defend and indemnify provided in this chapter shall be contingent upon:
(1) 
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 service of such document.
(2) 
The full cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action or proceeding and in the defense of any action or proceeding against the town based upon the same act or omission, and in the prosecution of any appeal.
B. 
Delivery pursuant to § 17-3A(1) shall be deemed a request by the employee that the town provide for his defense and indemnification pursuant to this chapter, unless the employee shall state in writing that a defense and/or indemnification is not requested.
The benefits of this chapter will inure 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.
[Amended 12-22-1998 by L.L. No. 7-1998]
The amendment of this chapter to specify in the body thereof that employees meeting the appropriate and previously mandated requirements are entitled to indemnification, as well as defense, by the town shall not be construed as an effort to create a right not previously enjoyed by such employees, but rather as a correction and clarification of the meaning and purpose of the original Local Law Number 3 of 1981, as evidenced by the title thereof, i.e., "Defense and Indemnification." Subject to the foregoing, the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to impair, alter, limit or modify the rights and obligations of any insurer under any policy of insurance.
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.
[Amended 12-22-1998 by L.L. No. 7-1998]
The provisions of this chapter, and the amendment of said chapter to set forth specifically the obligation of the town to its employees by way of indemnification, shall apply to all actions and proceedings specified herein which have been commenced, instituted or brought on or after the original effective date of this chapter.