The Village Board of the Village of Florida recognizes that there are
state statutory provisions mandating 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 government 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.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
VILLAGE
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department
or unit of the government of the Village of Florida.
VILLAGE EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Village of Florida whether paid or
unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity.
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.
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.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of three members
to be appointed by the Village Board, all of whom shall reside in the Village
of Florida and who shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of
the Village Board of the Village of Florida. A majority of such members shall
be persons other than Village employees, but at least one member shall be
an elected or an appointed Village employee of the Village of Florida.
The Board of Ethics established hereunder shall render advisory opinions
to Village employees upon 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.
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.
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 of provisions hereof.
Within 30 days of the adoption of this chapter, the Village Clerk shall
file a copy thereof in the office of the State Comptroller.
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 within the appropriations provided herein.