[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Caledonia 12-27-1990.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Board — See Ch. 19.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal
Law, the Town Board of the Town of Caledonia 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 Town of Caledonia. These rules shall serve as a guide
for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Town of Caledonia.
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 contracts of municipal officers and employees.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer or
employee unless the context otherwise requires.
An officer or employee of the Town of Caledonia, whether paid or
unpaid, including members of any administrative board, commission or other
agency thereof. No person shall be deemed to be a "municipal officer or employee"
solely by reason of being a volunteer fireman or civil defense volunteer,
except a chief engineer or an assistant chief engineer.
Every officer or employee of the Town of Caledonia shall be subject
to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A.
Gifts. He shall not directly or indirectly, solicit any
gift or accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 or more, whether
in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality,
thing or promise 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 performance of his official
duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his part.
[Amended 8-11-1994 by L.L. No. 4-1994]
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 municipal agency of which he is an officer, member or employee or of any
municipal agency over which he has jurisdiction or to which he has the power
to appoint any member, officer or employee.
[Amended 8-11-1994 by L.L. No. 4-1994]
D.
Representation before any agency for a contingent fee.
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
his municipality, whereby his compensation is to be dependent or contingent
upon any action by such agency with respect to such matter, provided that
this subsection shall not prohibit the fixing at any time of fees based upon
the reasonable value of the services rendered.
E.
Disclosure of interest in legislation. To the extent
that he knows thereof, a member of the Town Board and any officer or employee
of the Town of Caledonia, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the
discussion or gives official opinion to the Town Board on any legislation
before the Town Board 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 such municipality, appear before any board of
agency of the Town of Caledonia 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.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to bar or prevent the timely filing by
a present or former municipal officer or employee of any claim, account, demand
or suit against the Town of Caledonia, 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.
[Amended 8-11-1994 by L.L. No. 4-1994]
The Supervisor of the Town of Caledonia shall cause a copy of this Code
of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Town of Caledonia
within 15 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. Failure to distribute
the code shall have no effect upon compliance.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision at 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.
