[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Farmingdale 11-24-1980 by L.L. No. 5-1980 (Ch. 14A of the 1975
Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide legal and financial
protection for those individuals serving the Village of Farmingdale
from losses which may result from legal actions which may be brought
against them in their individual capacity for actions taken while
in the performance of their official duties and responsibilities.
In enacting this chapter, the Board of Trustees finds that the State
of New York has enacted similar provisions for the legal and financial
security of its officers and employees, and further finds that such
security is also required for local personnel. By enactment of this
chapter, the Board of Trustees does not intend to limit or otherwise
abrogate any existing right or responsibility of the Village or its
employees with regard to indemnification or legal defense. It is solely
the intent of this chapter to provide similar coverage for local employees
as is presently provided for state employees, so as to continue to
attract qualified individuals to local government service.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person holding a position by election, appointment or
employment in the service of the Village of Farmingdale, whether or
not compensated, or a volunteer expressly authorized to participate
in a municipally sponsored volunteer program, but shall not include
an independent contractor. The term "employee" shall include a former
employee, his estate or judicially appointed personal representative.
A.
Upon compliance by the employee with the provisions of § 22-5 of this chapter, the Village shall provide for the defense of the employee in any civil action or proceeding, in any state or federal court, arising out of any alleged act or omission which occurred or is alleged in the complaint to have occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of his public employment or duties or which is brought to enforce a provision of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 or 1983. This duty to provide for a defense shall not arise where such civil action or proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Village of Farmingdale.
B.
Subject to the conditions set forth in Subsection A of this section, the employee shall be entitled to be represented by the Village Attorney or such other private counsel as is selected by the Board of Trustees in any civil judicial proceeding where the Village Attorney determines, based upon his investigation and review of the facts and circumstances of the case, that representation by the Village Attorney would be inappropriate. The Board of Trustees may require, as a condition to the payment of the fees and expenses of such private representations, that appropriate groups of such employees be represented by the same counsel.
A.
The Village shall indemnify and save harmless its employees in the
amount of any judgment obtained against such employees in any state
or federal court or in the amount of any settlement of a claim, provided
that the act or omission from which such judgment or settlement arose
occurred while the employee was acting within the scope of his public
employment or duties. The duty to indemnify and save harmless prescribed
by this section shall not arise where the injury or damage resulted
from intentional wrongdoing or recklessness on the part of the employee.
B.
An employee represented by private counsel shall cause to be submitted
to the Board of Trustees any proposed settlement which may be subject
to indemnification by the Village and, if not inconsistent with the
provisions of this chapter, the Mayor shall certify such settlement
and submit such settlement and certification to the Village Attorney.
The Village Attorney shall review such proposed settlement as to form
and amount and shall give his approval if, in his judgment, the settlement
is in the best interest of the Village. Nothing in this section shall
be construed to authorize the Village to indemnify or save harmless
an employee with respect to a settlement not so reviewed and approved
by the Village Attorney.
C.
Upon entry of a final judgment against the employee or upon the settlement
of the claim, the employee shall cause to be served a copy of such
judgment or settlement, personally or by certified or registered mail,
within 30 days of the date of entry or settlement, upon the Mayor,
and, if not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, such
judgment or settlement shall be certified for payment by such Mayor.
If the Attorney concurs in such certification, the judgment or settlement
shall be paid upon the audit and warrant of the Village Clerk-Treasurer.
The duty to defend or indemnify and save harmless provided by
this chapter shall be conditioned upon delivery to the Village Attorney
or his assistant, at his office, by the employee of the original or
a copy of any summons, complaint, process, notice, demand or pleading
within five days after he is served with such document and the full
cooperation of the employee in the defense of such action or proceeding
and in the prosecution of any appeal. Such delivery shall be deemed
a request by the employee that the Village provide for his defense
pursuant to this chapter.
The benefits of this chapter shall inure only to employees as
defined herein and shall not enlarge or diminish the rights of any
other party, nor shall any provision of this chapter be construed
to affect, alter or repeal any provision of the Workers' Compensation
Law.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to impair,
alter, limit or modify the rights and obligations of any insurer under
any policy of insurance.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all actions and
proceedings pending upon the effective date thereof or thereafter
instituted.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the
provisions of this chapter shall not be construed in any way to impair,
alter, limit, modify, abrogate or restrict any immunity available
to or conferred upon any unit, entity, officer or employee of the
Village or any right to defense and/or indemnification provided for
any governmental officer or employee by, in accordance with or by
reason of any other provision of state or federal statutory or common
law.