The Town of East Hampton requires that its officials and employees be
impartial, responsible to its residents, not have interests that would be
incompatible with the proper discharge of their official responsibilities,
and strive to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. The purpose of the
Town’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct is to maintain and enhance
a tradition of responsible and effective public service by setting forth standards
of ethical conduct to guide its officials and employees in the conduct of
their public responsibilities. An independent Ethics Commission to investigate
and hear complaints under our Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct is a critical
link between our established ethical standards, Town officials and employees,
and our residents’ confidence in the integrity of Town governance.
Unless otherwise indicated or defined herein, the terms and conditions
used in this chapter shall have the same meanings as used in the Code of Ethics
adopted on September 4, 1975, revised and updated on January 28, 1997.
CODE
The Code of Ethics adopted on September 4, 1975, revised and updated
on January 28, 1997, and as further amended by those certain Conflict of Interest
and Recusal Guidelines as adopted by Town Council on September 27, 2005.
CODE OF CONDUCT
That certain Code of Conduct adopted by the Town Council on January
28, 2003.
COMPLAINANT
The party initiating a complaint alleging a violation of the Code
or Code of Conduct or requesting an advisory opinion.
RESPONDENT
The party against whom the complainant has alleged a violation of
the Code or Code of Conduct.
The Town Council shall appoint an Ethics Commission consisting of five
regular members and two alternate members. No more than two of the regular
members may be affiliated with any one political party or slate committee.
The alternate members may not be affiliated with the same political party
or slate committee. At all times, at least one regular member shall not be
affiliated with any political party or slate committee. The members of the
Commission shall serve four-year terms, provided, however, that with the first
appointments by the Town Council, three regular members and one alternate
shall be appointed for two-year terms, with the remaining regular members
and alternate appointed for four-year terms. Thereafter, the Town Council
shall appoint Commission members in the manner provided for in the Town Charter,
subject to the terms of this chapter.
The Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman, who shall serve
for two-year terms. The Commission shall establish its own rules and procedures
consistent with the Town Charter, this chapter, the Town’s duly established
ordinances and generally applicable law, including, without limitation, Section
1-82a(a) through (e) of the Connecticut General Statutes, as the same may
be amended from time to time. The first rules and procedures shall be established
within six months of the date on which the Town Council initially appoints
members of the Commission. The Commission shall hold meetings at the call
of the Chairman or two of the Commission members and at such other times as
may be provided by rules and procedures adopted by the Commission.
Each member and each alternate member shall be a resident elector of
the Town and shall not be compensated for service on the Commission. No member
or alternate member shall:
A. Hold or campaign for any Town or state office.
B. Have held Town, state or federal office, including the town committee
of a local political party, for a period of two years prior to being appointed
as a member or alternate member of the Commission.
C. Hold office in any political party, political action committee
or be a member of any other type of political committee.
D. Serve as a member of any other Town agency or commission.
E. Have been found in violation of any state, municipal or professional
code of ethics.
F. Be employed by the Town or have been employed by the Town during
the period two years prior to the date of appointment as a member or alternate
member of the Commission.
Not less than four affirmative votes shall be required for a finding
of and recommended penalty relating to a violation of the Code and/or Code
of Conduct.
No person shall take or threaten to take official action against an
individual for such individual’s disclosure of information to the Commission
under this chapter. After receipt of information from an individual under
the provisions of this chapter, the Commission shall not disclose the identity
of such individual without such individual’s consent unless the Commission
determines that such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of its investigation.
No person shall be subject to civil liability for any good faith disclosure
that such person makes to the Commission.