For the purpose of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
INTEREST
A pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer or employee, unless the context otherwise requires.
VILLAGE
Any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department or unit of the government of the Village of West Carthage, Jefferson County, New York.
VILLAGE EMPLOYEE
Any officer or employee of the Village of West Carthage, whether paid or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part-time or advisory capacity, including members of any administrative board, commission or other agency thereof.
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.
Every officer or employee of the Village of West Carthage shall be subject to and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A. 
Gifts. No Village employee shall, directly or indirectly, solicit any gift, or accept or receive any gift having a value of $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 reward for any official action on his part.
B. 
No Village employee shall accept other employment which will impair his independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
C. 
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, nor shall he at any time disclose such confidential information or use such information to further his personal interest.
D. 
No Village employee shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others.
E. 
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, nor accept private employment or render services for private interest that might reasonably tend to conflict with the proper discharge of his official duties.
F. 
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.
G. 
Each Village employee shall abstain from making personal investment 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.
H. 
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.
I. 
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.
J. 
No Village employee shall receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services to be rendered in relation to any matter before any Village agency, whereby his compensation is to be dependent 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.
K. 
Any Village employee who participates in the discussion or gives official opinion to the Village Board on any legislation before the Village 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.
L. 
No Village employee shall, after the termination of service or employment with the Village, appear before any board or agency of the Village of West Carthage 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 Village officer or employee of any claim, account, demand or suit against the Village of West Carthage 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.
M. 
No Village employee shall 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 before any municipal agency over which he has jurisdiction or to which he has the power to appoint any member, officer or employee.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any such Village employee who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions of this chapter may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment in the manner provided by law.