The Board of Trustees of the Village of Warwick recognizes that there are state statutory provisions mandating villages to establish rules and standards of ethical conduct for public officers and employees which, if observed, can enhance public confidence in local government. In the light of a tendency today on the part of some people to downgrade our local government and to discredit our public servants and our free institutions generally, it appears necessary that every effort be made to assure the highest caliber of public administration of this Village as part of our state's important system of local government. It is the purpose of this chapter to implement this objective through the establishment of standards of conduct, to provide for punishment of violation of such standards and to create a Board of Ethics to render advisory opinions to the Village's officers and employees as provided for herein.
The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein are in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions or procedures prescribed by statute of the State of New York and also in addition to common law rules and judicial decisions relating to the conduct of Village officers to the extent that the same are more severe in their application than this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
VILLAGE
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department or unit of the government of the Village of Warwick.
VILLAGE EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Village of Warwick, whether paid or unpaid or whether serving in a full-time or advisory capacity.
No Village employee shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity or incur any obligation of any nature which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest.
A. 
No Village employee shall accept other employment which will impair his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
B. 
No Village employee shall accept employment or engage in any business or professional activity which will require him to disclose confidential information which he has gained by reason of his official position or authority.
C. 
No Village employee shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others.
D. 
No Village employee shall engage in any transaction as representative or agent of the Village with any business entity in which he has a direct or indirect financial interest that might reasonably tend to conflict with the proper discharge of his official duties.
E. 
A Village employee shall not by his conduct give reasonable basis for the impression that any person can improperly influence him or unduly enjoy his favor in the performance of his official duties, or that he is affected by the kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person.
F. 
Each Village employee shall abstain from making personal investments in enterprises which he has reason to believe may be directly involved in decisions to be made by him or which will otherwise create substantial conflict between his duty in the public interest and his private interest.
G. 
Each Village employee shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct which will not raise suspicion among the public that he is likely to be engaged in acts that are in violation of his trust.
H. 
No Village employee employed on a full-time basis, nor any firm or association of which such employee is a member nor corporation a substantial portion of the stock of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such employee, shall sell goods or services to any person, firm, corporation or association which is licensed or whose rates are fixed by the Village in which such employee serves or is employed.
I. 
Each Village employee shall, to the extent that he is cognizant thereof, disclose any interest he may have in legislation before the Board of Trustees.
J. 
No Village employee within two years after the termination of his service or employment with the Village shall accept employment which will involve contacts with the Village which can work to his special advantage by virtue of his prior contact and relationship with the Village.