[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh 6-5-1989
by Ord. No. 89-1; amended in its entirety 9-7-2004
by L.L. No. 5-2004. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Defense and indemnification — See Ch. 12.
A.
This chapter shall be known as the "Code of Ethics of
the Town of Newburgh."
B.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 806 of the
General Municipal Law, the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh 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 Newburgh. These rules shall
serve as a guide for official conduct of the officers and employees of the
Town of Newburgh. 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:
Any adult mate living in the same household.
A spouse, domestic partner, or minor child residing in the household
of a Town officer, Town board member, or Town employee.
Any individual, group or firm which renders services on behalf of
the Town to any Town officer, Town board, Planning Board, Zoning Board of
Appeals, or any Town agency.
An officer or employee of the Town of Newburgh, whether paid or unpaid,
including members of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Recreation
Advisory Board, Board of Assessment Review or any other agency. It shall not
include volunteer firemen, ambulance corpsmen, or civil defense volunteers.
Should any Town officer be subject to another code of ethics or professional
conduct (i.e., Town Justice), the Town officer shall be subject to the conditions
of both codes, and the more stringent standards will apply.
A.
No Town officer, Town board member, Town employee or
Town consultant shall have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or
indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity,
or incur any obligation of any nature, which is in conflict with, or might
reasonably tend to conflict with, the proper discharge of his duties in the
public interest. In supplementation of the foregoing, pursuant to § 801
of New York State General Municipal Law, and subject to the exceptions set
forth in § 802 of the General Municipal Law, as such sections may
be amended or redesignated from time to time, no Town officer, Town board
member or Town employee shall have an interest in any contract with the Town,
when such Town officer, Town board member or Town employee, individually or
as a member of a board, has the power or duty to negotiate payment thereunder,
audit bills or claims under the contract, or appoint an officer or employee
who has any of the powers or duties set forth above; and no Town Supervisor,
Town accountant, his or her deputy, nor a Town employee within his or her
department, shall have an interest in a bank or trust company designated as
a depository, paying agent, registration agent or for investment of funds
of the Town. See Appendix A of this chapter for the texts of § 801
and § 802 of the General Municipal Law as of the date of adoption
hereof.[1] The provisions of this section shall in no event be construed
to preclude the payment of lawful compensation and necessary expenses of any
Town officer, Town board member or Town employee in one or more positions
of public employment, the holding of which is not prohibited by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Appendix A is on file in the office of the
Town Clerk.
B.
If such a conflict occurs, the Town officer, Town board
member, Town employee or Town consultant shall make known to all concerned
parties the nature of such conflict and shall refrain from any participation
whatsoever in the matter so as to avoid the conflict. In all cases of potential
conflict, the Town Supervisor and all Councilmen shall be made aware of the
situation by the person in conflict along with any other concerned parties,
including the Town of Newburgh Board of Ethics.
C.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall represent private interests before any agency, department,
officer or other entity of this Town of Newburgh Town government of which
he or she is a member, by which he or she is employed, or to which he or she
renders services. Furthermore, no Town officer, Town board member, Town employee
or Town consultant shall:
(1)
Appear as attorney or counsel against the interests of
the Town in any matter in which the Town is a party or complainant.
(2)
Solicit any nonelected officer or employee of the Town
to participate in an election campaign or to pay or promise to pay any assessment,
subscription, or contribution to a political party, political party organization,
or election campaign.
(3)
Solicit participation in an election campaign or payment
or promise of payment of any assessment, subscription, or contribution to
a political party, political party organization, or election campaign from
any person who, to the knowledge of the Town officer or employee, has, or
within the previous 12 months has had, any business dealing with the Town.
(4)
Hold the office of chairman or vice-chairman in a political party or political party organization. This Subsection C(4) shall apply only to appointed, paid public officials.
(5)
Direct or cause any Town officer, Town board member or
Town employee to do or perform any service or work outside of public work
or employment, or to accept any such service or work, nor shall any such officer,
member or employee offer to perform any such service or work, for such officer
or employee.
(6)
Request of members of the Town Board, Town officers or
department heads or employees that any individual receive preferential consideration
in connection with the provision of services or any appointment.
(7)
Request or permit the use of Town-owned vehicles, equipment,
materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such
services are available to the public generally or are provided as a Town policy
for the use of such officer, Town board member or employee in the conduct
of official business, or as otherwise permitted by prior written agreement
or contractual language, copies of which shall be provided to the Board of
Ethics.
A.
Any Town board member, Town Officer, Town employee or
Town consultant who has any financial interest, direct or indirect, in any
contract with the Town, or in the sale of any land, material, supplies or
services to the Town or in any contractor supplying the Town, shall make the
interest known, in writing, to the Town Board and the Board of Ethics. The
conflicted person shall not in any way participate in discussion of the contract.
B.
In addition, the following individuals will publicly
disclose, in writing, to the Town Clerk and the Board of Ethics all land holdings
in the Town of Newburgh, whether held personally, jointly with a spouse, by
a spouse or other immediate family members (to the best of one's knowledge),
jointly in partnership with others or as a corporation or trust, and the name
of any partnership, corporation or trust of which he or she, or his or her
spouse, is an officer, director or employee, or of which he or she, or his
or her spouse, legally or beneficially owns or controls more than 5% of the
outstanding stock or interest, and his or her position, and his or her spouse's
position, if any, with the partnership, corporation or trust:
(1)
All Town Board members.
(2)
All Planning Board members.
(3)
All Zoning Board of Appeals members.
(4)
Town Engineer.
(5)
Town Attorney or Attorney for the Town.
(6)
Consulting engineer to the Planning Board and ZBA.
(7)
Consulting attorney to the Planning Board and ZBA.
(8)
Building Inspector.
(9)
Fire Inspector.
(10)
Sole Assessor (provided, however, if § 336
of the Real Property Tax law applies and requires further or additional disclosure,
the Sole Assessor and all other Town officers and Town employees falling under
the definition of "assessor" in § 336 shall comply with the stricter
disclosure requirements of such state law).
(11)
All members of the Town of Newburgh Board of Ethics.
(12)
Town Clerk.
(13)
Receiver of Taxes.
(14)
All Town Justices.
C.
This disclosure shall be made by each of the above individuals.
For new Town officials, this disclosure shall be made within 30 days after
taking office. Each official listed above shall be responsible for updating
his/her disclosure whenever there is a change in the status of his/her land
holdings and financial interests.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or Town consultant,
whether paid or unpaid, shall disclose confidential information acquired by
him/her in the course of his/her official duties, nor use such information
to advance his/her financial or other private interests.
A.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall accept other employment which will impair his/her independence
of judgment in the exercise of his/her official Town duties.
B.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall accept employment or engage in business or professional
activity which will require him/her to disclose confidential information gained
by reason of official position or authority.
C.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall use or attempt to use his/her official position to secure
unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself/herself or others.
D.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall engage in any transaction as a representative of the
Town of Newburgh or a Town of Newburgh agency or department or other office
with any business entity in which he/she has a direct or indirect financial
interest that might reasonably tend to conflict with the proper discharge
of his/her official duties.
E.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall by his/her conduct give reasonable basis for the impression
that another can improperly influence him/her or unduly enjoy his/her favor
in the performance of his/her official duties or that he/she is affected by
kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person.
F.
A Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or Town
consultant shall abstain from making personal investments in enterprises which
he/she has reason to believe may be directly involved in decisions to be made
by him/her or which will otherwise create substantial conflict between his/her
duty in the public interest and his/her private interest.
G.
No Town board member, Town officer, Town employee or
Town consultant shall accept any gifts or gratuities having a value of $75
or more whether in the form of money or in kind in any way relating to his/her
official duties. The recipient of such gift or gratuity shall immediately
return same to the giver and shall notify the Town of Newburgh Board of Ethics
of the incident.
A.
The Town Board shall establish the Town Board of Ethics,
consisting of seven members, one of whom shall be a Town officer or employee,
and shall appropriate adequate funds for the Board's maintenance and
operation. The term of a member who is a Town officer or Town employee shall
expire when he or she leaves his/her office or employment by the Town.
B.
All members of the Board of Ethics shall reside within
the Town. Of the initial appointed members, one shall be appointed for a term
of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years, two
for a term of four years and two for a term of five years. Subsequently, members
shall be appointed to five-year terms. Each appointment shall be by unanimous
vote of the Town Board.
C.
The Town Attorney or Attorney for the Town shall provide
such legal and advisory services to the Board of Ethics as it may require
in the performance of its duties.
D.
Qualifications of Board of Ethics members:
E.
Removal of Town Ethics Board members. A Town Ethics Board
member may be removed by a 4/5 majority vote of the Town Board for substantial
neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers
or duties of office, or violation of this Code, after written notice and opportunity
for reply.
F.
Town Ethics Board meetings and quorum. At its first meeting
each year, the Town Ethics Board shall elect a Chairman from among its membership.
Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. A vote of at least four
members shall be required for the Board to take any action. The Board shall
hold at least one meeting per year. The Chairman or any four members may call
a meeting of the Board.
G.
Powers and duties of the Town Ethics Board. The Town
Ethics Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)
To prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing
its own organization and procedures in a manner consistent with this Code;
(2)
To cause to be filed with the State Ethics Commission a copy of the form for any disclosure statements required to be filed in § 16-5 of this Code;
(5)
To recommend disciplinary action and initiate appropriate actions and proceedings pursuant to § 16-11 of this Code;
(6)
To issue advisory opinions pursuant to § 16-12
of this Code;
(7)
To provide training and education to Town officers and
employees on the provisions of this Ethics Code; and
(8)
To prepare an annual report to the Town Board, summarizing
the activities of the Town Ethics Board, and recommend changes to this Code,
as necessary.
H.
The Town Ethics Board may act only with respect to officers,
consultants and employees of the Town.
I.
The Town Ethics Board may refer any matter within its
jurisdiction to the county or state ethics board.
A.
Issuance of waivers. The Town Ethics Board shall grant
a waiver in those situations in which the Town Ethics Board believes the exception
would serve the public interest, upon a unanimous vote of the Town Ethics
Board. Waivers shall be in writing and state the grounds on which they are
granted.
B.
Filing of a complaint. Any person may file a complaint
alleging a violation of this Code by writing to the Town Clerk's office,
except if such complaint pertains to the Town Clerk or his/her office, then
to the Town Supervisor's office.
A.
Upon receipt of a sworn complaint by any person alleging
any violation of this chapter or of any local ethics law, or upon determining
on its own initiative that a violation of this chapter or of any local ethics
act may exist, the Town Ethics Board shall have the power and duty to conduct
any investigation necessary to carry out the provision of this chapter. The
Town Ethics Board may administer oaths or affirmations, subpoena witnesses,
compel their attendance and require the production of any books or records
which it may deem relevant and material.
B.
The accused shall be notified in writing regarding the
complaint and shall have the right to appear before the Town Ethics Board
to explain or defend his/her position regarding the complaint.
C.
The Town Ethics Board is not permitted to conduct an
investigation of any of its members. Should the Town Ethics Board receive
notification alleging that the Board or any of its members has violated any
provision of this Code or any other law, the Board shall promptly refer the
matter to the county or state ethics board.
D.
The Town Ethics Board shall state in writing its advisory
opinion or disposition of every sworn complaint it receives and of every investigation
it conducts and shall set forth the reasons for the disposition. Upon the
final disposition of a complaint, all such statements and all sworn complaints
shall be public records and shall be indexed and maintained on file by the
Town Ethics Board. Prior to final disposition, all complaints, statements
or other evidence shall remain confidential.
E.
Upon receipt of a complaint alleging a violation of this
chapter by an individual that is a member of an association or society that
maintains a grievance committee and has a grievance procedure in effect, the
Town Ethics Board shall forward said complaint to said grievance committee
for an advisory opinion of any violation of the association or society code
of ethics. Upon receipt of the advisory opinion, the Town Ethics Board shall
either adopt, reject or adopt in part the advisory opinion of the association
or society and shall thereafter adopt its own decision.
F.
In its discretion, the Town Ethics Board may refer a
matter to the authority, person or body authorized by law to impose disciplinary
actions or to the appropriate prosecutor, if in the course of an investigation
or hearing the Town Ethics Board determines that such a referral is appropriate.
If such a referral is made, the Town Ethics Board may suspend its investigation
or adjourn its hearing, as the case may be, pending a determination by such
authority, person, body or prosecutor.
A.
After receiving the advisory opinion, the Town Board
may conduct a hearing on the matter in accordance with applicable laws. Upon
completion of such hearing, the Town Board may request an advisory opinion
and recommendation of disciplinary action from the Town Ethics Board, which
may recommend as follows:
(1)
Any Town officer, Town consultant or employee who engages
in any action that violates any provision of this Code may be warned or reprimanded
or suspended or removed from office or employment by the Town Board, pursuant
to applicable law, or by the person or body authorized by law to impose such
sanctions.
B.
If a hearing is held, the Town Board shall conduct and
complete the hearing with reasonable promptness.
A.
Upon written request of any board, department, or individual
Town officer or Town employee, the Town Ethics Board may render written advisory
opinions with respect to the interpretation or application of any provision
of this Code in a generic sense.
B.
Opinions and requests for opinions shall be public records
and shall be indexed and maintained on file in an appropriate manner by the
Town Ethics Board.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, word, section or part of this Town
Code of Ethics shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to
be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair
or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
to the clause, sentence, paragraph, word section or part thereof directly
involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.