[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Jamestown 10-5-1970. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 5.
Civil Service Commission — See Ch. 13.
Constables — See Ch. 14.
Defense and indemnification— See Ch. 15.
Historian — See Ch. 28.
Commission on Human Rights — See Ch. 32.
Officers and employees — See Ch. 47.
Ombudsman/Director of Human Resources — See Ch. 51.
Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commission — See Ch. 57.
Planning Commission — see Ch. 61.
Police Department — See Ch. 65.
Public works — See Ch. 68.
Commission on Reapportionment — see Ch. 72.
Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission — See Ch. 80.
Veterans Memorial Commission — See Ch. 82.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal Law, the Council of the City of Jamestown 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 Jamestown. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the City of Jamestown. 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 a result of a contract with the municipality which such officer or employee serves. A municipal officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract of:
[Amended 8-10-1992 by L.L. No. 2-1992]
A. 
A spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment with the municipality which such officer or employee serves;
B. 
A firm, partnership or association of which such officer 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.
MUNICIPAL OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
An officer or employee of the City of Jamestown, 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.
[Amended 8-10-1992 by L.L. No. 2-1992; 11-30-2020]
Every officer or employee of the City of Jamestown shall be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. 
Gifts. They shall not directly or indirectly solicit any gift nor accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 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 them or could reasonably be expected to influence them in the performance of their official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on their part.
B. 
Confidential information. They shall not disclose confidential information acquired by them in the course of their official duties or use such information to further their personal interest.
C. 
Representation before one's own agency. They 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 they are an officer, member or employee or of any municipal agency over which they have jurisdiction or to which they have the power to appoint any member, officer or employee.
D. 
Representation before any agency for a contingent fee. They 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 their municipality whereby their compensation is to be dependent or contingent upon any action by such an 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 they know thereof, a member of the Council and any officer or employee of the City of Jamestown, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Council on any legislation before the Council shall publicly disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or other private interest they have in such legislation.
F. 
Investments in conflict with official duties. They shall not invest or hold any investment, directly or indirectly, in any financial business, commercial or other private transaction which creates a conflict with their official duties.
G. 
Private employment. They 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 their official duties.
H. 
Future employment. They shall not, after the termination of service or employment with such municipality, appear before any board or agency of the City of Jamestown in relation to any case, proceeding or application in which they personally participated during the period of their service or employment or which was under their active consideration.
[Amended 11-30-2020]
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 Jamestown or any agency thereof on behalf of themselves or any member of their family arising out of any personal injury or property damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law.
[Amended 11-30-2020]
The Mayor of the City of Jamestown shall cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed to every officer and employee of the City within 60 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 their 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.