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 Stillwater, whether
paid or unpaid, including members of any administrative board, commission
or any agency thereof. No person shall be deemed to be a municipal
officer or employee solely by reason of being a volunteer.
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 Stillwater 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.
No officer or employee shall use his official position to provide
a financial or other private benefit to himself, a relative, an employer,
private customer, or client. Officers and employees are required to
avoid circumstances that compromise their ability to make decisions
solely in the public interest or create an appearance of impropriety.
No officer or employee shall knowingly make a false or deceptive report
or statement in the course of his official duties, nor shall he willfully
violate or evade any provision of law relating to his office or employment.
No officer or employee shall convert any Town property to his own
use or knowingly permit any other person to convert it. No officer
or employee shall, by neglect of duty, allow Town property to be lost
to the Town or commit any fraud upon the Town. In addition, every
officer or employee of the Town of Stillwater shall be subject to
and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A.
He shall file a complete and accurate annual disclosure of interest
document with the Town Clerk within 30 days of employment or anniversary
date, except that officers or employees after the first such filing
may file a one-page form prescribed by the Town Board or Ethics Board
indicating "no change from completed disclosure of (date)" instead
of completing the entire form each year when the information to be
disclosed has not changed. Such annual disclosure of interest document
shall be in the form approved by the Town Board at the time of filing
the same. The filing of any annual disclosure of interest document
that is knowingly false or purposefully fails to disclose information
shall constitute a violation of the Town Local Law Standard of Conduct.
[Amended 9-16-2010 by L.L. No. 9-2010, 11-17-2013 by L.L. No. 3-2013]
B.
He shall file a complete and accurate transactional disclosure of
interest document with the Town Clerk whenever he becomes aware that
the Town will or may transact business or take any action that would
provide a financial or other private benefit to himself, a relative,
an employer, private customer, or client. Such transactional disclosure
of interest document shall be in the form approved by the Town Board
at the time of the filing of the same. The filing of any transactional
disclosure document that is knowingly false or the intentional failure
to file a transactional disclosure document shall constitute a violation
of this section.
C.
Gifts. He shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or receive any
gift, whether in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment,
hospitality, thing or promise, or any other form, under circumstances
in which it could be reasonably 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.
D.
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.
E.
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 for which he is an officer, member or employee or any agency
over which he has jurisdiction or to which he has the power to appoint
any member, officer, or employee.
F.
Representation before any agency for a contingent fee. 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 his municipality, whereby his compensation is to be dependent or
contingent 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.
G.
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 Stillwater, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in
the discussion by 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
otherwise private interest he has in such legislation.
H.
Investment 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.
I.
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.
J.
Evidence and testimony. Whenever duly called upon to do so, any officer
or employee shall cooperate with, provide all information, give evidence
and testimony requested in any inquiry or hearing authorized by the
Board of Ethics or Town Board concerning his office, official acts
and conduct relating to employment.
K.
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 Stillwater 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.
