[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Scotia 12-27-1970.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Scotia recognizes that
there are state statutory provisions mandating or authorizing villages to
establish rules and standards of ethical conduct for public officers and employees
which, if observed, can enhance public confidence in local government. In
the light of a tendency today on the part of some people to downgrade our
local governments and to discredit our public servants and our free institutions
generally, it appears necessary that every effort be made to assure the highest
caliber of public administration of this village as part of our state's
important system of local government. It is the purpose of this chapter to
implement this objective through the establishment of standards of conduct,
to provide for punishment of violation of such standards and to create a Board
of Ethics to render advisory opinions to the village's officers and employees
as provided for herein.
The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein are
in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions or procedures
prescribed by statute of the State of New York and also in addition to common
law rules and judicial decisions relating to the conduct of village officers
to the extent that the same are more severe in their application than this
chapter.
A.
VILLAGE
VILLAGE EMPLOYEE
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department
or unit of the government of the Village of Scotia.
Any officer or employee of the Village of Scotia, whether paid or
unpaid and whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
B.
Rule with respect to conflicts of interest. No village
employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect,
or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity or incur
any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with the proper
discharge of his duties in the public interest.
C.
Standards.
(1)
No village employee shall accept other employment which
will impair his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
(2)
No village employee shall accept employment or engage
in any business or professional activity which will require him to disclose
confidential information which he has gained by reason of his official position
or authority.
(3)
No village employee shall use or attempt to use his official
position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others.
(4)
No village employee shall engage in any transaction as
representative or agent of the village with any business entity in which he
has a direct or indirect financial interest that might reasonably tend to
conflict with the proper discharge of his official duties.
(5)
A village employee shall not by his conduct give reasonable
basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence him or unduly
enjoy his favor in the performance of his official duties or that he is affected
by the kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person.
(6)
Each village employee shall abstain from making personal
investments in enterprises which he has reason to believe may be directly
involved in decisions to be made by him or which will otherwise create substantial
conflict between his duty in the public interest and his private interest.
(7)
Each village employee shall endeavor to pursue a course
of conduct which will not raise suspicion among the public that he is likely
to be engaged in acts that are in violation of his trust.
(8)
No village employee employed on a full-time basis nor
any firm or association of which such employee is a member nor corporation,
a substantial portion of the stock of which is owned or controlled directly
or indirectly by such employee, shall sell goods or services to any person,
firm, corporation or association which is licensed or whose rates are fixed
by the village in which such employee serves or is employed.
(9)
Each village employee shall, to the extent that he is
cognizant thereof, disclose any interest he may have in legislation before
the Village Board.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law,
any such village employee who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any
of the provisions of this chapter may be fined, suspended or removed from
office or employment in the manner provided by law.
A.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting
of at least three (3) members to be appointed by the Village Board of Trustees,
all of whom reside in the Village of Scotia and who shall serve without compensation
and at the pleasure of the Village Board of the Village of Scotia. A majority
of such members shall be persons other than village employees but the Board
shall include at least one (1) member who is an elected or appointed village
employee of the Village of Scotia.
B.
The Board of Ethics established hereunder shall render
advisory opinions to village employees on written request and, upon request
of the Village Board, make recommendations to such Village Board as to any
amendments of this chapter. The opinions of the Board of Ethics shall be advisory
and confidential and in no event shall the identity of the village employee
be disclosed except to authorized persons and agencies. Such opinions shall
be on the advice of counsel employed by the Board of Ethics or, if none, of
the Village Attorney.
C.
Such Board of Ethics, upon its formation, shall promulgate
its own rules and regulations as to its form and procedures and shall maintain
appropriate records of its opinions and proceedings.
A.
Upon the adoption of this chapter, the Mayor shall cause
a copy thereof to be distributed to every village employee of this village.
Failure to distribute any such copy or failure of any village employee to
receive such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this
code nor the enforcement of provisions hereof. The Mayor shall further cause
a copy of this chapter to be kept posted conspicuously in each public building
under the jurisdiction of the village. Failure to so post this chapter shall
have no effect on the duty of compliance herewith nor the enforcement provisions
hereof.
B.
Within four (4) days of the adoption of this chapter,
the Village Clerk-Treasurer shall file a copy thereof in the office of the
State Comptroller.
C.
The Village Board may appropriate moneys from the general
village funds for the maintenance of and for personnel services to the Board
of Ethics established hereunder, but such Board of Ethics may not commit the
expenditure of village moneys except with the appropriations provided herein.
