[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Webster 10-1-1970 by L.L. No. 4-1970 (Ch. 28 of the 1991 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal Law, the Town Board of the Town of Webster 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 Webster. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the Town of Webster. 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:
INTEREST
A direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer or employee as the result of a contract with the Town. For the purposes of this chapter, a municipal officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract of a) his spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment with the Town, b) a firm, partnership or association of which such officer or employee is a member or employee, c) a corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director or employee and d) a corporation, any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee, unless the context otherwise requires.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the Town of Webster, 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 Town of Webster shall be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. 
Gifts. No municipal officer or employee shall directly or indirectly solicit any gift or accept or receive any gift exceeding, or greater than, that value set forth in § 805 a, Article 18 of the New York State General Municipal Law (the "Ethics in Government Act") , as amended from time to time, 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 such officer or employee or could reasonably be expected to influence such officer or employee in the performance of the officer's or employee's official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action thereby.
[Amended 11-6-2008 by L.L. No. 5-2008]
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, expressed 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, expressed 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. To the extent he knows thereof, any officer or employee of the town and any member of any board or agency thereof, whether paid or unpaid, who participated in the discussion or gives an official opinion to any board or agency of the town on any legislation, administration or other action before such board or agency shall publicly disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any interest he has in such action.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
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 Town of Webster 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 Webster 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 at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The Supervisor of the Town of Webster shall cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the town 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. Failure to distribute any such copy or failure of any officer or employee to receive such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this article, nor with the enforcement of the provisions thereof.
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.