Town of Southold, NY Article III Disclosure Requirements

§ 26-17 Annual disclosure.

A. Officers and employees required to file. The following classes of officers and employees of a Town shall be required to file a signed annual disclosure statement:

(1) Officers and employees who are elected.

(2) The heads of departments and their deputies and other persons authorized to act on their behalf.

(3) Officers and employees who hold policy-making positions, including members of the boards of the Town.

(4) Officers and employees whose job descriptions or actual duties involve the negotiation, authorization or approval of nonministerial permits or licenses or variances.

B. Time and place for filing. Annual disclosure statements shall be filed with the Town's Ethics Board:

(1) Within 120 days after the effective date of this section.

(2) Within 30 days after becoming subject to the requirements of Subsection A of this section.

(3) No later than May 15 of each year thereafter.

C. Changes in disclosed information. Within 30 days after a change in the information contained in his or her most recently filed annual disclosure statement, an officer or employee shall file a signed amendment to the statement indicating the change.

D. Contents of annual disclosure statement. The annual disclosure statement shall:

(1) Disclose, with respect to any office, trusteeship, directorship, partnership or other position held in a business, association, proprietary or not-for-profit association, proprietary or not-for-profit association held by a Town officer, employee or immediate family member, the nature of the position and the name and address of the organization.

[Amended 4-2-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]

(2) Give the title of the position and the name and address of any employer of the officer, employee or spouse which is a source of income in excess of $500.

(3) Describe the nature and location of any real property or investments within the Town, or within one mile of the boundary of the Town, in which the officer, employee or immediate family member has a financial interest.

[Amended 4-2-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]

(4) Identify each interest in a trust, estate or similar beneficial interest (except for IRS eligible retirement plans) in which the officer, employee or immediate family member has an investment in excess of $2,000.

[Amended 4-2-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]

(5) List the name and address of donors of all gifts received by the officer, employee or immediate family member excluding gifts from a relative, which have an estimated value in excess of $500.

[Amended 4-2-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]

(6) Identify the name, address and general nature of reimbursement for travel expenses in excess of $250 for any matter that relates to your official duties.

(7) Describe any interest the officer, employee or immediate family member has in any contract involving the Town.

[Amended 4-2-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]

(8) Identify the name and address of any person to whom the officer, employee or spouse owes a debt in excess of $5,000.

E. Good-faith efforts. Failure to disclose the information required by this section with respect to Town officer's or employee's spouse or other relative shall not constitute a violation of that subsection if the officer or employee has made a good-faith effort to obtain the information and if he or she also sets forth those efforts in his or her disclosure statement.

§ 26-18 Designation of officers and employees required to file annual disclosure statements.

A. Within 90 days after the effective date of this chapter, and during the month of March each year thereafter, the Town Board of the Town of Southold shall:

(1) Cause to be filed with the Town's Ethics Board a list of names and offices or positions of all officers and employees of the Town required to file annual disclosure statements pursuant to this chapter.

(2) Notify all such officers and employees of their obligation to file an annual disclosure statement.

§ 26-19 Maintenance of disclosure statements.

A. The Town Clerk shall transmit promptly to the Ethics Board each annual disclosure statement filed with the Clerk pursuant to this chapter.

B. The Ethics Board shall index and maintain on file, for at least seven years, all annual disclosure statements filed with the Board.

§ 26-20 Applicant disclosure.

[Added 9-30-1997 by L.L. No. 24-1997]

Where a person requests a municipality or a municipal officer or employee to take or fail to take any action (other than a ministerial act) that may result in a financial benefit to the requestor, the requestor shall disclose the names of any Town officer or employee who might have a financial interest in the application, to the extent known to the requestor at the time of the request. The disclosure shall be set forth in writing and accompany the application.