[HISTORY: Adopted by the Legislature of the
County of Putnam 4-1-2008 by L.L. No. 13-2008.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed
former Ch. 55, Ethics, Code of, adopted 7-8-1983, as amended, as well
as former Ch. 56, Financial Disclosure Statements, adopted 8-1-2000
by L.L. No. 11-2000.
A.
It is the policy of the County of Putnam that all
officers and employees must avoid conflicts, or potential conflicts,
of interest which shall exist whenever an officer or employee has
an interest, direct or indirect, which conflicts with his or her duty
to the County or which could adversely affect an individual's judgment
in the discharge of his or her responsibilities. The purposes of this
chapter are:
(1)
To establish high standards of ethical conduct for
officers and employees of the County;
(2)
To afford officers and employees of the County clear
guidance on such standards;
(3)
To promote public confidence in the integrity of the
governance and administration of the County and its agencies and administrative
offices;
(4)
By requiring public disclosure of financial interests
that may influence or be perceived to influence the actions of County
officers and employees, to facilitate consideration of potential ethical
problems before they arise, and enhance the accountability of government
to the people; and
(5)
To provide for the fair and effective administration
of this chapter.
B.
Every officer or employee of the County of Putnam
shall be subject to and abide by the standards of conduct set forth
in this chapter.
[Amended 10-6-2015 by L.L. No. 10-2015]
Unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires,
when used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Communicating in any form, including, without limitation,
personally, through another person, by letter, by email or other electronic
means, or by telephone.
The Board of Ethics of the County of Putnam established pursuant to § 55-12.
[Added 7-2-2019 by L.L. No. 8-2019; amended 9-3-2019 by L.L. No. 11-2019]
Any record created by, or any communication to or from, the
Putnam County Law Department, Legislative Counsel, or outside counsel
or consultant retained by Putnam County, shall be presumed to be confidential
material even if not explicitly designated "confidential." Such presumption
of confidentiality shall have no determinative effect on the availability
of the record to the public under the Public Officers Law.
The County of Putnam. "County agency" means any Putnam County
department or division, board, commission or bureau of any Putnam
County department but shall not include the County Court.
Any officer or employee of the County, whether paid or unpaid,
elected or appointed, and includes, without limitation, all members
of any office, board, body, advisory board, council, commission, agency,
department, district, administration, division, bureau, or Board of
Ethics of the County. "County officer or employee" shall not include:
A judge, justice, officer, or employee of the unified court
system;
A volunteer firefighter or civil defense volunteer; or
A member of an advisory board of the County if, but only if,
the advisory board has no authority to implement its recommendations
or to act on behalf of the County or to restrict the authority of
the County to act. No entity established pursuant to the General Municipal
Law of the State of New York shall be deemed an advisory board for
purposes of this subsection.
Any person to whom a County officer or employee has supplied
goods or services during the previous 24 months having, in the aggregate,
a value greater than $5,000; or
Any person to whom a County officer's or employee's
outside employer or business has supplied goods or services during
the previous 24 months having, in the aggregate, a value greater than
$5,000, but only if the County officer or employee knows or has reason
to know the outside employer or business supplied the goods or services.
Shall include any money, service, license, permit, contract,
authorization, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, or any promise
thereof or any other gratuity or promise thereof or anything of value.
A financial transaction may be a financial benefit but shall not be
a gift unless it is on terms not available to the general public.
"Gift" and "financial benefit" do not include campaign contributions
permitted by law.
Any person with whom a County officer or employee lives as
a single household unit.
An administrative act carried out in a prescribed manner
not allowing for substantial personal discretion.
Means:
Any activity, other than service to the County, from which the
County officer or employee receives compensation for services rendered
or goods sold or produced;
Any entity, other than the County, of which the County officer
or employee is a member, officer, director, or employee and from which
he or she receives compensation for services rendered or goods sold
or produced; or
Any entity in which the County officer or employee has an ownership
interest of 5% or more.
For purposes of this definition, "compensation" shall not include
reimbursement for necessary expenses, including travel expenses.
Includes individuals and entities.
Any information kept, held, filed, produced
or reproduced by, with or for an agency or the Legislature of Putnam
County, in any physical form whatsoever (including electronic media),
including, but not limited to, reports, statements, examinations,
memoranda, opinions, folders, files, books, manuals, pamphlets, forms,
papers, designs, drawings, maps, photographs, letters, microfilms,
computer tapes or discs, rules, regulations or codes. The term shall
include a draft whether or not it results in a final document.
[Added 7-2-2019 by L.L. No. 8-2019]
A spouse, child, stepchild, sibling, half-brother, half-sister,
parent, stepfather, stepmother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew,
and first cousin. "Relative" shall also include any person claimed
as a dependent on the New York State individual tax return of a County
officer or employee.
A.
A County officer or employee shall not take or fail
to take any action which he or she knows or has reason to know may
result in a personal financial benefit for any of the following persons:
B.
No County officer or employee shall engage in a business
or transaction or have an interest that is prohibited by Article 18
of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, nor shall such
person have an interest in any contract that is prohibited by Article
18 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.
C.
No County officer or employee shall, directly or indirectly,
solicit any gift, or accept or receive any gift having a value of
$75 or more, or aggregating more than $200 from one person in any
twelve-month period, whether in the form of money, service, loan,
travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or in any other
form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred
that the gift was intended to influence him or her or could reasonably
be expected that the gift would influence him or her in the performance
of his or her official duties or was intended as a reward for any
official action on his or her part.
D.
A County officer or employee shall not represent any
other person in any matter that person has before any County agency
of which the County officer or employee is an officer, member, or
employee or of any Putnam County agency over which he or she has jurisdiction
or to which he or she has the power to appoint any member, officer
or employee.
E.
A County officer or employee shall not appear before
any agency of the County except on his or her own behalf or on behalf
of the County, unless the details of such appearance (including the
amount of compensation, if any) are disclosed in writing to the agency
and provided that such appearance is not in conflict with the proper
discharge of his or her official duties.
F.
No County officer or employee shall disclose confidential
information acquired by him or her in the course of official duties
or use such information to further his or her personal interest or
use for profit of himself or herself or others, information about
the property, affairs, finances or government of the County that is
not generally available to the public, exclusive of information available
to the public under the Freedom of Information statutes.
G.
A County officer or employee shall not require or
authorize anyone else to require any subordinate of the officer or
employee to participate in an election campaign or contribute to a
political party or campaign.
H.
No person who has served as a municipal officer or
employee of a County agency shall within a period of two years after
the termination of such service or employment a) appear before any
board or agency of Putnam County (except on his or her own behalf
or on behalf of the County) or b) receive compensation for any service
rendered on behalf of any person, firm, corporation or association,
in relation to any case, proceeding or application with respect to
which such person was directly concerned or in which he or she personally
participated during the period of his or her service of employment
or which was under his or her active consideration.
[Amended 6-3-2008 by L.L. No. 18-2008]
I.
No County employee shall use or permit the use of
County property (including land, vehicles, equipment, materials and/or
any other property) for personal convenience or profit, except when
such use is available to County citizens generally or is provided
as a condition of County employment or as a matter of County policy.
J.
No
County officer or employee shall disclose, distribute, transmit, forward,
publicize, deliver, describe, or in any other way disseminate confidential
material to any person who is not also a Putnam County officer or
employee, or who is not outside legal counsel for Putnam County, including
Legislative Counsel, and which person is authorized to receive such
Confidential Material as being within the scope of the receiver’s
employment, official duties, or engagement by or on behalf of Putnam
County.
[Added 7-2-2019 by L.L. No. 8-2019]
The provisions of § 55-3 shall not prohibit;
A.
An action specifically authorized by statute, rule,
or regulation of the State of New York or of the United States.
B.
A ministerial act.
C.
Gifts accepted on behalf of the County and transferred
to the County.
D.
Gifts or benefits permitted in § 11 of the
Domestic Relations Law of the State of New York for the solemnization
of a marriage by a County officer or employee at a place other than
his or her normal public place of business or at a time other than
his or her normal hours of business.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection E, concerning an award to a County officer or employee from a charitable organization, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 6-3-2008 by L.L. No. 18-2008. This local law also provided for the redesignation of Subsections F and G as Subsections E and F, respectively.
E.
Representation of constituents by elected officials
without compensation in matters of public advocacy.
F.
Complimentary attendance by a County officer or employee
at a private organization's event or function, including a meal or
meals furnished to all attendees, provided that:
(1)
The County officer or employee reasonably determines
that his or her attendance at the event or function is necessary or
desirable for the proper performance of his or her County duties and
responsibilities; and
G.
Disclosure
of confidential material under the following circumstances:
[Added 7-2-2019 by L.L. No. 8-2019; amended 9-3-2019 by L.L. No. 11-2019]
(1)
Pursuant
to FOIL requests approved by the County Attorney, the Putnam County
FOIL appeals officer, or by court order after exhaustion or waiver
of any court appeals;
(2)
For
legislative records protected by the attorney-client privilege, the
deliberative process privilege, and/or constituting attorney work
product, when such privilege is explicitly waived by a unanimous vote
of the entire Legislature;
(3)
Sharing
of records within and between Putnam County officials and government
agencies, including the Legislature, provided that such records must
be conspicuously marked "confidential" prior to sharing;
(4)
Sharing
of records with local, state or federal government agencies, or with
private consultants, vendors or contractors, for official purposes
related to the business of Putnam County, provided that such sharing
is approved by the County Attorney and further provided that such
records are conspicuously marked "confidential" prior to sharing;
(5)
In conformance
with New York State Public Officers Law Article 6-A ("Personal Privacy
Protection Law"), in response to a written request from a data subject
for a record reasonably described pertaining to that data subject;
and
(6)
Pursuant
to any circumstance under which protections would be afforded to Putnam
County employees by New York State Labor Law Article 20-C ("Retaliatory
Action By Employers").
A County officer or employee shall promptly
report to the Board of Ethics any attempt by any other person to induce
him or her to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, whether
or not the other person is also a County officer or employee.
A.
Prohibited interests. No County officer or employee
shall have an interest in a contract with the County, or an interest
in a bank or trust company, that is prohibited by § 801
of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York. Any contract
willfully entered into by or with the County in which there is an
interest prohibited by that section shall be null, void, and wholly
unenforceable, to the extent provided by § 804 of that law.
B.
Discloseable interests.
(1)
Any County officer or employee who has, will have,
or later acquires a personal financial benefit from i) any legislation
before the Putnam County Legislature or ii) any actual or proposed
contract with the County shall publicly disclose the nature and extent
of such personal financial benefit. In the case of legislation, such
disclosure shall be made to the Clerk of the Legislature, in writing
as well as (in the case of a County Legislator) publicly on the record
of a legislative session, as soon as he or she has knowledge of such
actual or prospective interest, and such disclosure shall be made
part of and set forth in the official record of the proceedings of
the Legislature. In the case of a contract, such disclosure shall
be made in writing to or by the person executing the contract on behalf
of the County, by an addendum to the contract or other communication
that shall be attached to the contract.
(2)
Once disclosure has been made by an officer or employee
with respect to an interest in a contract with a particular person,
firm, corporation or association, no further disclosures need be made
by such officer or employee with respect to additional contracts with
the same party during the remainder of the fiscal year.
(3)
Any County officer or employee who takes an action which he or she knows or has reason to know may result in a personal financial benefit for a person from whom the County officer or employee has received election campaign contributions of more than $1,000 in the aggregate during the past twelve months shall disclose that fact in writing at the time of taking the action. In the case of legislation or a County contract, such disclosure shall be made in accordance with Subsection B(1).
(4)
Every municipal officer and employee shall also disclose
publicly any conflict of interest as and to the extent required by
§ 803 of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law of the
State of New York.
C.
Violations. Any County officer or employee who willfully
and knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty
of a Class A misdemeanor to the extent provided by § 805
of the General Municipal Law.
A.
Officers and employees required to file. The Legislature
shall determine, annually by resolution no later than at its organizational
meeting, which County officers or employees shall be required to comply
with the disclosure requirements herein, based upon a list or recommendation
submitted by the Putnam County Personnel Director as to which County
officers and employees are subject to such requirements in accordance
with the New York State Public Officers Law. The Personnel Director
shall submit the list for each year no later than December 1 of the
preceding year.
B.
Time and place for filing.
(1)
Annual financial disclosure statements shall be completed
and filed with the Board of Ethics on or before May 15 of each year.
[Amended 10-6-2015 by L.L. No. 11-2015]
(2)
Any person who is required to file an annual statement
of financial disclosure may request, prior to May 15 of the year for
which the employment is in effect, an extension, for a specific period
of time, of the time for filing responses to all or any part of the
statement. Such request shall be made, in writing, to the Board of
Ethics and shall substantiate justifiable cause or undue hardship
or as otherwise required by law. The Board of Ethics may grant or
deny the request, and extensions shall be for the specific period
of additional time requested or as otherwise required by law.
C.
Annual financial disclosure statement form. The annual
financial disclosure statement form shall be supplied by the Board
of Ethics, by no later than January 15 of each year, to those persons
who are required to file. It shall be substantially in the form approved
by the County Legislature and shall contain language advising those
persons of their continuing duty to disclose known conflicts of interest.
D.
Failure to file. A failure to file an annual disclosure
form, or a failure to disclose true and accurate information required
thereby, shall be a violation of this chapter.
E.
Good-faith efforts. Failure to disclose the information required by the disclosure statement with respect to a County officer's or employee's spouse or other relative shall not constitute a violation of Subsection D 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.
F.
The Board of Ethics shall permit any person required to file an annual
financial statement to request, in writing, an exemption from any
requirement to report one or more items of information which may pertain
to such person’s spouse or unemancipated child, which item or
items may be exempted by the Board of Ethics upon a finding by the
Board of Ethics that the reporting individual’s spouse, or the
individual or other person on behalf of such child, objects to providing
the information necessary to make disclosure and that the information
which would otherwise be required to be reported would have no material
bearing on the discharge of the reporting person’s official
duties. If such request for exemption is denied, the Board of Ethics,
in its written notification of denial, shall inform the person, in
writing, of the grounds for such denial.
[Added 10-6-2015 by L.L.
No. 11-2015]
Any contract willfully entered into by or with the County in which there is an interest prohibited by Article 8 of the General Municipal Law or this chapter shall be null, void and wholly unenforceable, and a contract which involves a failure to make a disclosure required by this chapter shall be null, void and wholly unenforceable unless ratified by the Legislature after the requisite disclosure is made.
A.
Disciplinary action.
(1)
Any County officer or employee who fails to file a
disclosure statement after notice has been given of the failure to
file, who files an incomplete or inaccurate disclosure statement after
notice and an opportunity to complete or correct the filed statement,
or who engages in any action that violates any provision of this chapter
may, upon written recommendation of the Board of Ethics, be warned
or reprimanded or suspended or removed from office or employment,
or be subject to any other sanction authorized by law or collective
bargaining agreement, by the appointing authority or person or body
authorized by law to impose such sanctions. A warning, reprimand,
suspension, removal, or other authorized sanction may be imposed in
addition to any other penalty contained in this chapter or in any
other provision of law. Such recommendation by the Board of Ethics
shall be made only after a hearing providing for due process procedural
mechanisms and subject to any applicable provisions of law and collective
bargaining agreements.
(2)
The Board shall conduct and complete the hearing within
120 days, unless in its discretion the Board refers the matter to
the authority or person or body authorized by law to impose disciplinary
action or unless the Board refers the matter to the appropriate prosecutor.
If such a referral is made, the Board may adjourn the matter pending
determination by the authority, person, body, or prosecutor.
B.
Civil penalty. Any County officer or employee who violates any provision of this chapter may, upon recommendation by the Board of Ethics to the County Legislature, be subject to a civil penalty of up to $100 for his or her failure to file a true, complete and accurate disclosure statement or up to $10,000 for any other violation. A civil penalty may be imposed in addition to any other penalty contained in any other provision of law or in this chapter. A civil penalty may not be imposed for a violation of § 55-3. Such recommendation by the Board of Ethics shall be made only after a hearing providing for due process procedural mechanisms and subject to any applicable provisions of law and collective bargaining agreements. The Board shall conduct and complete the hearing with reasonable promptness. The civil penalty shall be payable to the County. In the event that the County is required to institute legal proceedings to collect all or any part of a civil penalty imposed upon a person hereunder, the County shall be entitled to recover from the person any and all associated costs incurred by the County, if any, including legal fees, and interest upon any unpaid civil penalty calculated at the statutory rate.
[Amended 5-4-2010 by L.L. No. 11-2010]
C.
Misdemeanor. A County officer or employee who intentionally or knowingly violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The Board of Ethics shall refer any such matter to the District Attorney for further action. This subsection shall not apply to a violation of § 55-5.
Any resident, officer, or employee of the County
may initiate an action or special proceeding, as appropriate, in a
court of appropriate jurisdiction for injunctive relief to enjoin
an officer or employee of the County from violating this chapter or
to compel an officer or employee of the County to comply with the
provisions of this chapter. In lieu of, or in addition to, injunctive
relief, the action or special proceeding, as appropriate, may seek
a declaratory judgment.
All annual financial disclosure statements required
hereunder shall be filed with and retained by the Board of Ethics.
Disclosure thereof shall be made only pursuant to law, and the Board
of Ethics may adopt appropriate rules and regulations to enforce the
various provisions of this chapter. The Board of Ethics shall destroy
all disclosure forms submitted in accordance with this chapter pursuant
to the Records Retention Disposition Schedule as issued by the New
York State Education Department.
[Amended 12-7-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
A.
There is
hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of five members appointed
by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by a simple majority
of the Legislature.
B.
The members
of the Board of Ethics shall reside in the County of Putnam.
C.
No more
than one member of the Board of Ethics may be an appointed officer
or employee of the County.
D.
No Board
of Ethics member shall hold office in a political party or be employed
or act as a lobbyist or hold elective office in the County.
E.
The term
of office of Board of Ethics members shall be three years and shall
run from January 1 through December 31, except that of the members
holding office on the effective date of this chapter, one member shall
serve until December 31 of that year, two shall serve until the next
December 31, and two shall serve until the third December 31.
F.
A Board
of Ethics member shall serve until his or her successor has been appointed.
G.
The members
of the Board of Ethics shall not receive compensation but shall be
reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of
their official duties.
When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board of Ethics, the vacancy shall, within 60 days, be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Ethics shall meet the qualifications set forth in § 55-12.
A Board of Ethics member may be removed from office in the same manner in which he or she was appointed, after written notice and opportunity for reply. Grounds for removal shall be failure to meet the qualifications set forth in § 55-12, chronic absenteeism, substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers or duties of office, or violation of this chapter.
At its first meeting each year, the Board of
Ethics shall elect a Chair from among its members. A majority of the
Board shall be required for the Board to take any action. The Chair
or a majority of the Board may call a meeting of the Board.
[Amended 12-4-2012 by L.L. No. 15-2012]
A.
Except
as provided in § 808 of the New York State General Municipal
Law, the Board of Ethics may only act with respect to officers and
employees of the County.
B.
The termination
of a municipal officer’s or employee’s term of office
or employment with the County shall not affect the jurisdiction of
the Board of Ethics with respect to the requirements imposed on him
or her by this chapter.
C.
Internal
organization and procedures; other powers and duties.
(1)
The
Board of Ethics shall adopt rules and regulations governing its own
internal organization and procedures in a manner consistent with this
chapter. Such rules and regulations shall guarantee due process and
be consistent with all applicable state laws and adopted after consultation
with the Putnam County Attorney.
(2)
The
Board of Ethics shall have such other powers and duties as shall be
provided by or pursuant to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law
of the State of New York, or any other applicable law.
D.
The County
Attorney shall provide legal services to the Board of Ethics upon
request, except that in cases where the Board of Ethics deems it necessary
or appropriate, the Board may engage the services of outside counsel
with the consent of the County Legislature which shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
The Board of Ethics shall review:
A.
The lists of officers and employees prepared pursuant to § 55-7, to determine whether the lists are complete and accurate. The Board shall recommend to the Legislature the addition or deletion of County officers or employees in appropriate circumstances.
B.
All annual financial disclosure statements to determine
whether any person required to file such a statement has failed to
file it, has filed a deficient statement, or has filed a statement
that reveals a possible or potential violation of this chapter.
A.
Upon receipt of a signed written complaint by any
person alleging a violation of this chapter, or upon determining on
its own initiative that a violation of this chapter may exist, the
Board of Ethics shall have the power and duty to conduct any investigation
necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. In conducting
any such investigation, the Board of Ethics may administer oaths or
affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, and require
the production of any books or records that it may deem relevant and
material.
B.
The Board of Ethics shall state in writing the disposition
of every complaint it receives and of every investigation it conducts
and shall set forth the reasons for the disposition. All such statements
and all complaints shall be indexed and maintained on file by the
Board.
C.
Every person filing a complaint with the Board of
Ethics shall be notified in writing a) of the Board's receipt of the
complaint, promptly after its receipt, and b) of the disposition of
the complaint promptly after its disposition.
D.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit
the Board of Ethics to conduct an investigation of itself or of any
of its members or staff. If the Board of Ethics receives a complaint
alleging that the Board of Ethics or any of its members or staff has
violated any provision of this chapter, or any other law, the Board
of Ethics shall promptly transmit to the County Legislature a copy
of the complaint. The Legislature may refer the matter to another
board of ethics in the County for a determination.
E.
The Board of Ethics may refer to the appropriate prosecutor
possible criminal violations of this chapter. Nothing contained in
this chapter shall be construed to restrict the authority of any prosecutor
to prosecute any violation of this chapter or of any other law.
F.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit
the Board of Ethics to take any action with respect to any alleged
violation of this chapter, or of any other law, by the Board of Ethics
or by any member or staff member thereof.
The Board of Ethics may refer any matter to
the County Attorney for a determination whether to initiate an action
or special proceeding, as appropriate, in a court of appropriate jurisdiction
for injunctive relief to enjoin a violation of this chapter or to
compel compliance with this chapter.
[Amended 12-4-2012 by L.L. No. 15-2012]
A.
The Board
of Ethics shall render advisory opinions to County officers and employees
with respect to the interpretation and application of this chapter,
or Article 18 of the New York State General Municipal Law.
B.
Consistent
with § 808 of the New York State General Municipal Law,
the Board of Ethics shall also render advisory opinions to officers
and employees of municipalities wholly or partly within the County
with respect to Article 18 of the New York State General Municipal
Law or any code of ethics adopted pursuant thereto.
C.
The Board of Ethics shall render any such advisory opinion only pursuant to a written request by an officer or employee of the County or of a municipality wholly or partly within the County consistent with § 808 of the New York State General Municipal Law. The request must relate to the officer’s or employee’s official duties and responsibilities. The Board of Ethics shall acknowledge receipt of any such request within 30 days after receipt thereof, and shall act upon such request within 60 days of receipt or may treat the request as a complaint governed by § 55-18.
D.
Advisory
opinions of the Board of Ethics, and the identity of the person requesting
an advisory opinion shall be confidential, and in no event shall an
advisory opinion or the identity of the officer or employee be disclosed
by the Board of Ethics. The person to whom an advisory opinion is
rendered may make such disclosures with respect to the advisory opinion
as he or she may wish.
The Board of Ethics:
A.
Shall make information concerning this chapter and
Article 18 of the General Municipal Law available to the officers
and employees of the County, to the public, and to persons interested
in doing business with the County; and
B.
Shall develop educational materials and an educational
program for the officers and employees of the County on the provisions
of this chapter and on Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
A.
The Board of Ethics shall, no later than March 15
each year, prepare and submit an annual report to the County Executive
and the County Legislature, summarizing the activities of the Board.
The report may also recommend changes to the text or administration
of this chapter.
B.
The Board of Ethics shall periodically review this
chapter and the Board's rules, regulations, and administrative procedures
to determine whether they promote integrity, public confidence, and
participation in County government and whether they set forth clear
and enforceable, common-sense standards of conduct and shall take
or recommend action as appropriate.
A.
The Board of Ethics shall, in accordance with its published rules, make available for public inspection and copying all records, except that it may deny access to records or portions thereof that are not required to be disclosed under Article 6 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York or by other state or federal law or regulation.
A.
No existing right or remedy shall be lost, impaired,
or affected by reason of this chapter.
B.
Nothing in this chapter 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 County,
or any County agency, on behalf of himself or herself or any member
of his or her family arising out of any personal injury or property
damage or for any lawful benefit authorized or permitted by law.
C.
If any provision of this chapter is held by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that decision shall not affect
the validity and effectiveness of the remaining provisions of this
chapter.
A.
Within 90 days after the effective date of this chapter,
and thereafter as appropriate, the Board of Ethics shall transmit
to the County Executive of the County, in a form suitable for posting,
copies of this chapter, together with a summary of those provisions
of this chapter which the Board of Ethics deems appropriate. Within
10 days after receipt of those copies and summary, the County Executive
shall cause the copies and summary to be posted conspicuously in every
public building under the jurisdiction of the County.
B.
Within 90 days after the effective date of this chapter,
and thereafter as appropriate, the Board of Ethics shall transmit
to the County Executive of the County, in a form suitable for distribution
to the officers and employees of the County, copies of this chapter,
together with a summary of those provisions of this chapter which
the Board of Ethics deems appropriate. Within 10 days after receipt
of those copies, the County Executive shall cause the copies and summary
to be distributed to every officer and employee of the County and
made readily available to the public. Every County officer or employee
elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished a copy of this
chapter and the summary within 10 days after entering upon the duties
of his or her position.
