[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Farmington 8-25-1970 by L.L. No. 2-1970 (Ch. 11 of the 1969
Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Farmington
Code of Ethics Local Law."
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806
of the General Municipal Law, the Town Board of the Town of Farmington
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 or 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 Farmington. These rules shall serve as a guide for
official conduct of the officers and employees of the Town of Farmington.
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 Town of Farmington, 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 Farmington
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 $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 him, or could reasonably be expected to influence him,
in the performance of this official duties or was intended as a reward
for any official action on his part.
[Amended 12-23-2014 by L.L. No. 1-2015]
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 Town Board or 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
board, court or agency of which he is an officer, member or employee,
or for which he is employed to give professional advice, 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.
Disclosure of interest in legislation. To the extent
that he knows thereof, a member of the Town Board and any officer
or employee of the Town of Farmington, whether paid or unpaid, who
participates in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Town
Board on any legislation before the Town Board 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.
E.
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.
F.
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.
G.
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 Farmington 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 Farmington,
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 Supervisor of the Town of Farmington 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.
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.
A.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting
of three members to be appointed by the Town Board of the Town of
Farmington. The members of the Board of Ethics shall serve without
compensation and at the pleasure of the Town Board. Two of such members
shall be persons other than officers and employees of the Town of
Farmington, and the third member shall be an elected or appointed
officer or employee of the Town.
B.
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 Town of Farmington
pursuant to the written request of such officer or employee with respect
to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and the foregoing Code
of Ethics, under such rules and regulations as the Board may prescribe.
