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LL #02-1970TOWN OF WAPPINGER LOCAL LAW NO. 2, 1970 A local law relating to a Code of Ethics and a Board of Ethics for the Town of Wappinger. Be it enacted by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger as follows: ARTICLE I INTENT OF TOWN BOARD Section I. Statement of legislative intent. The Town Board of the Town of Wappinger recognizes that there are state statutory provisions authorizing towns to establish rul&s and standards of ethical conduct for officers and. employees which, if observed, can enhance public confidence in local goverment. 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 bb made to assure the highest caliber of public administration of this Town as part of our state's important system of local government. It is the purpose of this local law to implement this objective through the establishment of standards of conduct, to provide for punishment of violation of such standards and to create a Board of Ethics to render advisory opinions to the Town's officers and employees as provided herein. Section 2. The standards, prohibited acts and procedures established herein are in addition to any prohibited acts, conflicts of interest provisions pre- scribed by statute.of the State of New York and also in additon to common law rules and judicial decisions relating to the conduct of town officers to the ex- tent that the same are more severe in their application than this local law. ARTICLE II CODE OF ETHICS Section I. Definitions, As used in this local law, the term "town" shall mean any board, commission, district, council or other agency, department or unit of the government of the Town of Wappinger. I The term "town employee" shall mean any officer or employee of the Town of Wappinger whether paid or unpaid, whether serving in a full-time, part- time or advisory capacity. Section 2. Rule with respect to conflicts of interest. No town em- ployee 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 substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest. Section 3. Standards. a. No town employee shall accept other employment which will impair his independence of judgement in the exercise of his official duties. b. No town employee shall accept employment or engage in any business or professional activity which will require him to disclose confidential in- formation which he has gained by reason of his official position or authority. c. No town employee shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for himself or others. d. No town employee shall engage in any transaction as representative or agent of the TGwn with any business entity in which he has a direct or in- direct financial interest that might reasonably tend to conflict with the proper discharge of his official duties. e. A town employee shall not by his conduct give reasonable basis for the impression that any person can imporperly influence him or unduly enjoy his favor im the perfomance of his official duties, or that he is affected by the kinship, rank, position or influence of any party or person. f. Each town employee shall abstain from making personal investments in enterprises which he has reason to believe may be indirectly involved in decisions to be made by him or which will otherwise create substanti&l conflict between his duty in the public interest and his private interest. g. Each town employee shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct which will not raise suspicion among the public that he is likely to be engaged in acts that are in violation of his trusts 2 h. No town employee employed on a full-time basis nor any firm or association of which such employee is a member nor corpona.tion a substantial portion of the stock of which is owned orcontrolled directly or indirectly by such employee, shall sell goods or services to any person, firm, corporation or association which is licensed or whose rates are fixed by the Town in which such employee serves or is employed. Section k. Violations. In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, any such town employee who shall knowingly and intentionally violate any of the provisions of this local law may be fined, suspended or emoved from office or employment in the manner provided by law. ARTICLE III BOARD OF ETHICS Section 1. There is hereby established a Board of Ethics consisting of at least _ three membeirs to be appointed by the Town Board, all of whom reside in the Town of Wappinger and who shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger. A majority of such members shall be persons other than town employees but shall include at least one member who is an elected or appointed town employee of the Town of Wappinger. Section 2. The Board of Ethics established hereunder shall render advisory opinions to town employees on written request and upon request «,+f the Town Board make recommendations to such Town Board as to any amemdments of this local law. The opinions of the Board of Ethics shall be advisory and confidential and in no event shall the identity of the town employee be disclosed except to authorized persons and agencies. Such opinions shall be on the advice of counsel employed by the Board of Ethics, or if none, of the Town Attorney. Section 3. Such Board of Ethics upon its formation shall promulate its own rules and regulations as to its form and procedures and shall maintain appropriate records of its opinions and proceedings. 3. �� ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATION Section 1. Upon the adoption of this local law, the Town Supervisor shall cause a copy thereof to be distributed to every town employee of this town. Failure to distribute any such copy or failure of any town 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 local law to be kept posted conspicuously in each public building under the jurisdiction of the Town. Failure to so post this local law shall have no effect on the duty of compliance herewith, nor the en- Z6rcement provisions hereof. Section 2. Within thirty days of the adoption of this local law, the Town Clerk shall file a copy thereof in the office of the State Comptroller. Section 3. The Town Board may appropriate moneys from the general town funds for the maintenance of and for personnel services to:the Board of Ethics established hereunder, but such Board of Ethics may not commit the expenditure of the Town moneys except within the appropriations provided herein. ARTICLE V SEVERABILITY CALUSE Section 1. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this local law shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall hot affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the cluase, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. ARTICLE VI EFFECTIVE DATE Section 1. This local law shall take effect immediately.