[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Corinth 1-6-2000.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This resolution superseded former Ch. 15, Code of Ethics,
11-5-1970, as amended.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 860 of the General Municipal
Law, the Town Board of the Town of Corinth recognizes that there are rules
of ethical conduct for public officers and employees which must be observed
if a high degree of moral conduct is to be obtained and if public confidence
is to be maintained in our unit of local government. It is the purpose of
this chapter to promulgate these rules of ethical conduct for the officers
and employees of the Town of Corinth. These rules shall serve as a guide for
official conduct of the officers and employees of the Town of Corinth. The
rules of ethical conduct of this chapter as adopted, shall not conflict with,
but shall be in addition to any prohibition of Article 18 of the General Municipal
Law or any other general or special law relating to ethical conduct and interest
in contracts of municipal officers and employees.
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 or the Town of Corinth, whether paid or unpaid,
including members of any administrative board or other agency thereof. No
person shall be deemed to be a municipal officer or employee solely by reason
of being a volunteer fireman or civil defense volunteer, except a chief engineer
or assistant chief engineer.
Every officer or employee of the Town of Corinth shall be subject to
and abide by the following standards of conduct:
A.Â
Gifts. He shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit
any gift or accept or receive any gift having a value of $75, whether in the
form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or
promise, or any other form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably
be inferred that the gift was intended to influence or could be reasonably
expected to influence him, in the performance of his official duties or was
intended as a reward for any official action on his part.
B.Â
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.
C.Â
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 of which he is an officer, member or employee or of any municipal agency
over which he has jurisdiction or to which be has power to appoint any member,
officer or employee.
D.Â
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.
E.Â
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 Corinth, whether paid or unpaid, who participates in the discussion
or gives an 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 other private interest he has in such
legislation.
F.Â
Investments 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.
G.Â
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.
H.Â
Future employment. He shall not, after termination of
service or employment with such municipality, appear before any board or agency
of the Town of Corinth in relation to any case, proceeding or application
in which he personally participated during the period of his service of employment
or which was under his active consideration.
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 Corinth, 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.
The Supervisor of the Town of Corinth shall instruct the Town Clerk
to distribute a copy of this Code of Ethics to every officer and employee
of the Town of Corinth within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution.
Each officer or employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished
a copy before entering upon the duties of his office or employment.
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law,
any person who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions
of this code may be fined, suspended or removed from office or employment,
as the case may be, in the manner provided by law.
