[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Manlius 3-13-1991
as Ch. 4 of the 1991 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Defense and indemnification — See Ch. 7.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the General Municipal Law, the Town Board 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. These rules shall serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the town. 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. Section 14-5 also provides for the establishment of a Board of Ethics for the town pursuant to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the
following words shall have the meanings indicated:
An officer or employee of the town, 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.
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer or
employee.
Every officer or employee of the town 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 twenty-five dollars
($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 regard 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 of the town. 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
the town.
E.
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, 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.
F.
Investments in conflict with official duties. He shall
not invest or hold any investments 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 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 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.
A.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting
of three (3) members to be appointed by the Town Board, all of whom reside
in the town and who shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of
the Town Board. A majority of such members shall be persons other than elected
or appointed officers or employees of the town, but the Board shall include
one (1) member who is 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 with respect to Article
18 of the General Municipal Law and this Code of Ethics adopted by the Town
Board 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 amendments to this Code of Ethics upon request
of the Town Board.
The Supervisor shall cause a copy of this Code of Ethics to be distributed
to every officer and employee of the town within thirty (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 chapter may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment,
as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.
