[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Evans 2-13-2019 by L.L.
No. 2-2019.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Defense and indemnification — See Ch. 12.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 16,
Code of Ethics, adopted 6-3-1970 by L.L. No. 2-1970, as amended.
The Town Board of the Town of Evans recognizes that there are
state statutory provisions mandating towns 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 governments 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 Town as part of our state's important system of local government.
This Code of Ethics establishes those standards.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The governing board of a municipality and any municipal administrative
board (e.g. Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals), commission,
or other agency or body comprised of two or more municipal officers
or employees.
A direct or indirect financial or material benefit, but does
not include any benefit arising from the provision or receipt of any
services generally available to the residents or taxpayers of the
municipality or an area of the municipality, or a lawful class of
such residents or taxpayers. A municipal officer or employee is deemed
to have an interest in any private organization when he or she, his
or her spouse, or a member of his or her household, is an owner, partner,
member, director, officer, employee, or directly or indirectly owns
or controls more than 5% of the organization's outstanding stock.
A paid or unpaid officer or employee of the Town of Evans,
including, but not limited to, the members of any municipal board.
Town of Evans. The word "municipal" refers to the municipality.
A spouse, child, parent, sibling, or household member of
a municipal officer or employee.
This Code of Ethics applies to all officers and employees of
the Town of Evans.
A.
Prohibition on use of municipal position for personal or private
gain.
(1)
No member of the Town Board, municipal officer, or employee shall
use his or her municipal position or official powers and duties to
secure a financial or material benefit for himself or herself, a relative,
or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an
interest.
B.
Disclosure of interest in legislation and other matters.
(1)
To the extent that he or she knows thereof, whenever a matter requiring
the exercise of discretion comes before a member of the Town Board,
or any officer or employee of the Town of Evans, whether paid or unpaid,
either individually or as a member of a board, and disposition of
the matter could result in a direct or indirect financial or material
benefit to himself or herself, a relative, or any private organization
in which he or she is deemed to have an interest, the municipal officer
or employee shall disclose the nature of the interest.
C.
Interests in contracts.
(1)
No municipal officer or employee may have an interest in a contract
that is prohibited by § 801 of the General Municipal Law.
(2)
Every municipal officer and employee shall disclose interests in
contracts with the municipality at the time and in the manner required
by § 803 of the General Municipal Law.
D.
Nepotism.
(1)
Except as otherwise required by law:
(a)
No municipal officer or employee, either individually or as
a member of a board, may participate in a decision specifically to
appoint, hire, promote, discipline or discharge a relative for any
position at, for or within the municipality or a municipal board.
(b)
No municipal officer or employee who becomes an officer or employee
after the effective date of this chapter may directly supervise a
relative in the performance of the relative's official powers
or duties.
E.
Investments in conflict with official duties.
(1)
An officer or employee 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 or her official duties.
F.
Recusal and abstention.
(1)
A Town officer or employee shall promptly recuse himself or herself
from acting on a matter before the Town when acting on the matter,
or failing to act on the matter, may financially benefit the official
or employee personally, or a relative, or private organization in
which he or she is deemed to have an interest. Whenever a Town officer
or employee is required to recuse himself or herself, he or she shall
immediately refrain from participating further in the matter.
G.
Use of municipal resources.
(1)
Municipal resources shall be used for lawful municipal purposes.
Municipal resources include, but are not limited to, municipal personnel,
and the municipality's money, vehicles, equipment, materials,
supplies or other property.
(2)
No municipal officer or employee may use or permit the use of municipal
resources for personal or private purposes, but this provision shall
not be construed as prohibiting:
(a)
Any use of municipal resources authorized by law or municipal
policy;
(b)
The use of municipal resources for personal or private purposes
when provided to a municipal officer or employee as part of his or
her compensation; or
(c)
The occasional and incidental use during the business day of
municipal telephones and computers for necessary personal matters
such as family care and changes in work schedule.
(3)
No municipal officer or employee shall cause the municipality to
spend more than is reasonably necessary for transportation, meals
or lodging in connection with official travel.
H.
Political solicitations.
(1)
No municipal officer or employee shall directly or indirectly compel
or induce a subordinate municipal officer or employee to make, or
promise to make, any political contribution, whether by gift of money,
service or other thing of value.
(2)
No municipal officer or employee may act or decline to act in relation
to appointing, hiring or promoting, discharging, disciplining, or
in any manner changing the official rank, status or compensation of
any municipal officer or employee, or an applicant for a position
as a municipal officer or employee, on the basis of the giving or
withholding or neglecting to make any contribution of money or service
or any other valuable thing for any political purpose.
I.
Confidential information.
(1)
No municipal officer or employee who acquires confidential information
in the course of exercising or performing his or her official powers
or duties may disclose or use such information unless the disclosure
or use is required by law or in the course of exercising or performing
his or her official powers and duties.
J.
Gifts.
(1)
A Town official or employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit
any gift; or accept or receive any gift having a value of $75 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 be reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended
to influence him or her in the performance of official duties or was
intended as a reward for any official action on his or her part.
K.
Private employment in conflict with official duties.
(1)
No Town official or employee, during his or her tenure as a Town
official or employee, may engage in private employment, when the employment
can be reasonably expected to require more than sporadic recusal and
abstention.
L.
Future employment.
(1)
No Town official or employee, for a period of two years after completion
of his or her service or employment with the Town, shall accept employment
which will involve contacts with the Town which can work to his or
her special advantage by virtue of his or her prior contact and relationship
with the Town.
A.
This code's prohibition on use of a municipal position, disclosure
requirements, and requirements relating to recusal and abstention,
shall not apply with respect to the following matters:
B.
Recusal and abstention shall not be required with respect to any
matter:
(1)
Which comes before a board when a majority of the board's total
membership would otherwise be prohibited from acting by this code;
(2)
Which comes before a municipal officer when the officer would be
prohibited from acting by this code and the matter cannot be lawfully
delegated to another person.
A.
There is hereby established a Board of Ethics for the municipality.
The Board of Ethics shall render advisory opinions to the officers
and employees of the Town of Evans with respect to Article 18 of the
General Municipal Law and this code. Such advisory opinions must be
rendered pursuant to the written request of any such officer or employee
under such rules and regulations as the Board of Ethics may prescribe.
In addition, the Board of Ethics may make recommendations with respect
to the drafting and adoption of a code of ethics, or amendments thereto,
upon the request of the Town of Evans.
B.
The Board of Ethics shall consist of five members, plus one alternate
member, a majority of whom shall not be officers or employees of the
municipality. The members of such board of ethics shall be appointed
by the Town Board of the Town of Evans, serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authority, and receive no salary or compensation for their
services as members of The board of Ethics. The Town Attorney shall
be a nonvoting, ex-officio member of the Board of Ethics, and upon
request of the Board shall render advice and help in rendering advisory
opinions.
Upon the adoption of this chapter, the Town Supervisor shall
cause a copy thereof to be distributed to every person who is or becomes
an officer or employee of the Town of Evans. Failure to distribute
any such copy or failure of any Town official or employee to receive
such copy shall have no effect on the duty of compliance with this
code, nor the enforcement of provisions hereof. The Town Supervisor
shall further cause a copy of this chapter to be kept posted conspicuously
in each public building under the jurisdiction of the Town. Failure
to so post this chapter, or an amendment thereof, shall have no effect
on the duty of compliance herewith, nor the enforcement provisions
hereof.
Any Town officer or employee who violates this code may be censured,
fined, suspended or removed from office or employment in the manner
provided by law.
