[HISTORY: Derived from Chapter 104 of the 1975 Compilation, as amended
through 1996. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Officers and employees — See Ch. 31.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal
Law, the Common Council of Oneonta, New York, 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 City of Oneonta, New York. These rules shall serve as
a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the City of
Oneonta, New York. 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 City of Oneonta, New York, 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 assistant chief engineer.
Every officer or employee of the City of Oneonta, New York, 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 $25 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.
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.
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 Common Council and any officer or employee
of the City of Oneonta, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion
or gives official opinion to the Common Council on any legislation before
the Common Council 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 or
agency of the City of Oneonta, New York, 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 City of Oneonta, New York, 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.
The Mayor of the City of Oneonta, New York, shall cause a copy of this
Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the city
within 30 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.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of 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.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of three members
to be appointed by the Mayor and who shall serve without compensation and
at the pleasure of the Mayor. A majority of such members shall be persons
other than officers or employees of the City of Oneonta, but shall include
at least one member who is an elected or appointed officer or employee of
the City of Oneonta.
The Board of Ethics shall have the powers and duties prescribed by Article
18 of the General Municipal Law and shall render advisory opinions to the
officers and employees of the City of Oneonta with respect to Article 18 of
the General Municipal Law and any Code of Ethics adopted pursuant to such
article, under such rules and regulations as the Board may prescribe. In addition,
the Board may make recommendations with respect to the drafting and adoption
of a Code of Ethics or amendments thereto upon request of the Common Council.