[HISTORY: Adopted by the Legislature of the
County of Monroe 11-24-1992 by L.L. No. 6-1992. Amendments note where
applicable.]
This chapter is to protect Monroe County employees
who make allegations, to the county officials listed in § 8-33
herein, of illegal activity or misconduct.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any action by an officer or employee of Monroe County which
is undertaken on behalf of the county in violation of any federal,
state or local law, rule or regulation and is economically wasteful.
A.
Any Monroe County employee may in good faith provide
information on any matter involving illegal activity or misconduct
to:
(1)
The County Executive;
(2)
The County Personnel Director;
(3)
The Controller;
(4)
The County Attorney;
(5)
The District Attorney;
(6)
The President of the County Legislature;
(7)
The Director
of the Office of Public Integrity; or
[Added 3-8-2016 by L.L.
No. 2-2016]
(8)
The Director
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Chief Diversity Officer.
[Added 10-13-2020 by L.L. No. 6-2020]
B.
Any officer or official listed in Subsection A of this section receiving such information of illegal activity or misconduct may conduct his/her own investigation or refer the matter to the appropriate department for a more complete, detailed investigation of the allegations. If any investigation is undertaken by the appropriate authorities, it shall not exceed 120 days to complete.
C.
In conducting an investigation, the county authority
shall use best efforts to keep confidential the identity of the person
providing the information which initiated the investigation, unless
the county authority determines the information was provided other
than in good faith. The result of any investigation shall be reported
to such other authority as the investigating county authority deems
appropriate.
No county officer or employee may, directly
or indirectly, use or attempt to use his/her official authority or
influence for the purpose of intimidating, threatening, coercing,
commanding, influencing or attempting to intimidate, threaten, coerce,
command or influence any individual for the purpose of interfering
with the right of such individual to disclose information relative
to illegal activity or misconduct. Pursuant to this section, "use
or attempt to use official authority to influence" includes promising
to confer or conferring any benefit or effecting or threatening to
effect any reprisal.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
mean a limitation on any grievance mechanism or rights of appeal and/or
judicial review currently enjoyed by any Monroe County employee.
