Source: https://www.ecode360.com/10678116
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 17:11:36+00:00

Document:
§ 28-5 Prohibition on use of Municipal position for personal or private gain.
§ 28-6 Disclosure of interest in legislation and other matters.
§ 28-7 Treatment of public.
§ 28-8 Recusal and abstention.
§ 28-10 Investments in conflict with official duties.
§ 28-11 Private employment in conflict with official duties.
§ 28-13 Personal representations and claims permitted.
§ 28-14 Use of Municipal resources.
§ 28-15 Interests in contracts.
§ 28-17 Political solicitations and campaign activities.
§ 28-20 Board of Ethics.
§ 28-21 Complaints and investigations.
§ 28-23 Confidential ethics advisory opinions.
§ 28-24 Posting and distribution of code.
§ 28-25 Penalties for offenses.
This chapter shall be known as the "Code of Ethics."
Officers and employees of the City of Watervliet hold their positions to serve and benefit the public and not for obtaining unwarranted personal or private gain in the exercise and performance of their official powers and duties. The City of Watervliet recognizes that, in furtherance of this fundamental principle, there is a need for clear and reasonable standards of ethical conduct. This Code of Ethics establishes those standards.
The City Council and any Municipal administrative board (e.g., Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals), commission or other agency or body comprised of two or more Municipal officers or employees.
A direct or indirect financial or material benefit, but does not include any benefit arising from the provision or receipt of any services generally available to the residents or taxpayers of the municipality or an area of the municipality, or a lawful class of such residents or taxpayers. A Municipal officer or employee is deemed to have an interest in any private organization when he or she, his or her spouse or a member of his or her household is an owner, partner, member, director, officer or employee or directly or indirectly owns or controls more than 5% of the organization's, outstanding stock.
The City of Watervliet. The word "municipal" refers to the municipality.
A paid or unpaid officer or employee of the City of Watervliet, including, but not limited to, the members of any Municipal board.
A spouse, domestic partner, parent, stepparent, sibling, stepsibling, stepsibling's spouse, child, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin or household member of a Municipal officer or employee and individuals having any of these relationships to the spouse of the officer or employee.
This Code of Ethics applies to the officers and employees of the City of Watervliet and shall supersede any prior Municipal Code of Ethics. The provisions of this Code of Ethics shall apply in addition to all applicable state and local laws relating to conflicts of interest and ethics, including, but not limited to, Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and all rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the City of Watervliet.
No Municipal officer or employee shall use his or her Municipal position or official powers to secure a financial or material benefit for himself or herself, a relative or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest.
Whenever a matter requiring the exercise of discretion comes before a Municipal officer or employee, either individually or as a member of a board, and disposition of the matter could result in a direct or indirect financial or material benefit to himself or herself, a relative or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest, the Municipal officer or employee shall disclose, in writing, the nature of the interest.
The disclosure shall be made when the matter requiring disclosure first comes before the Municipal officer or employee or when the Municipal officer or employee first acquires knowledge of the interest requiring disclosure, whichever is earlier.
In the case of a person serving in an elective office, the disclosure shall be filed with the City Council of the municipality. In all other cases, the disclosure shall be filed with the person's supervisor, or, if the person does not have a supervisor, the disclosure shall be filed with the Municipal officer, employee or board having the power to appoint to the person's position. In addition, in the case of a person serving on a Municipal board, a copy of the disclosure shall be filed with the board. Any disclosure made to a board shall be made publicly at a meeting of the board and must be included in the minutes of the meeting.
An officer or employee of the City of Watervliet shall treat all members of the public, whether a person, firm or corporation or other organization, with respect and in a professional manner, with equal consideration and without special advantage in carrying out his or her official duties.
No Municipal officer or employee may participate in any decision or take any official action with respect to any matter requiring the exercise of discretion including discussing the matter and voting on it, when he or she knows or has reason to know that the action could confer a direct or indirect financial or material benefit on himself or herself, a relative or any private organization in which he or she is deemed to have an interest.
If the power or duty is vested in a Municipal employee, he or she must refer the matter to his or her immediate supervisor, and the immediate supervisor shall designate another person to exercise or perform the power or duty.
Adoption of the municipality's annual budget.
Any matter that does not require the exercise of discretion.
Which comes before a board when a majority of the board's total membership would otherwise be prohibited from acting by § 28-8 of this code.
Which comes before a Municipal officer when the officer would be prohibited from acting by § 28-8 of this code and the matter cannot be lawfully delegated to another person.
Investments from any City of Watervliet auction if the employee or officer is in the position to negotiate, prepare, authorize or approve the contract for the sale upon which he or she is bidding.
Bonds or notes issued by the municipality and acquired more than one year after the date on which the bonds or notes were originally issued.
Requires representation of a person or organization other than the municipality in connection with litigation, negotiations or any other matters to which the municipality is a party.
No Municipal officer or employee may ask for, pursue or accept a private post-government employment opportunity with any person or organization that has a matter requiring the exercise of discretion pending before the Municipal officer or employee, either individually or as a member of a board, while the matter is pending or within the 90 days following final disposition of the matter.
No Municipal officer or employee, for the one-year period after serving as a Municipal officer or employee, may represent or render services to a private person or organization in connection with any matter involving the exercise of discretion before the Municipal office, board, department or comparable organizational unit for which he or she serves.
No Municipal officer or employee at any time after serving as a Municipal officer or employee, may represent or render services to a private person or organization in connection with any particular transaction in which he or she personally and substantially participated while serving as a Municipal officer or employee.
Asserting a claim against the municipality on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of his or her spouse or minor children.
Municipal resources shall be used for lawful Municipal purposes. Municipal resources include, but are not limited to, Municipal personnel and the municipality's money, vehicles, equipment, materials, supplies or other property.
The occasional and incidental use during the business day of Municipal telephones and computers for necessary personal matters such as family care and changes in work schedule.
No Municipal officer or employee shall cause the municipality to spend more than is reasonably necessary for transportation, meals or lodging in connection with official travel.
No Municipal officer or employee may have an interest in a contract that is prohibited by § 801 of the General Municipal Law.
Every Municipal officer and employee shall disclose interests in contracts with the municipality at the time and in the manner required by § 803 of the General Municipal Law.
No Municipal officer or employee, either individually or as a member of a board, may participate in any decision specifically to appoint, hire, promote, discipline or discharge a relative for any position at, for or within the municipality or a Municipal board.
No Municipal officer or employee may supervise a relative in the performance of the relative's official powers or duties.
No Municipal officer or employee shall directly or indirectly compel or induce a subordinate Municipal officer or employee to make, or promise to make, any political contribution, whether by gift of money, service or other thing of value.
No Municipal officer or employee may act or decline to act in relation to appointing, hiring, promoting, discharging or disciplining, or in any manner changing the official rank, status or compensation of, any Municipal officer or employee, or an applicant for a position as a Municipal officer or employee, on the basis of the giving or withholding or neglecting to make any contribution of money or service or any other valuable thing for any political purpose.
No employee shall engage in political campaign activities during his or her official City of Watervliet workday.
No Municipal officer or employee who acquires confidential information in the course of exercising or performing his or her official powers or duties may disclose or use such information unless the disclosure or use is required by law or in the course of exercising or performing his or her official powers and duties.
No Municipal officer or employee shall solicit, accept or receive a gift in violation of § 805-a (l)(a) of the General Municipal Law as interpreted in this section.
No Municipal officer or employee may directly or indirectly solicit any gift.
The gift is intended as a reward for any official action on the part of the officer or employee.
For purposes of this section, a gift includes anything of value, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or in any other form. The value of a gift is the gift's fair market value, determined by the retail cost of the item or a comparable item. The fair market value of a ticket entitling the holder to food, refreshments, entertainment or any other benefit is the face value of the ticket, or the actual cost to the donor, whichever is greater. Determination of whether multiple gifts from a single donor exceed $75 must be made by adding together the value of all gifts received from the donor by an officer or employee during the twelve-month period preceding the receipt of the most recent gift.
Gifts intended to influence or reward.
A gift to a Municipal officer or employee is presumed to be intended to influence the exercise or performance of his or her official powers or duties when the gift is from a private person or organization that seeks Municipal action involving the exercise of discretion by or with the participation of the officer or employee.
A gift to a Municipal officer or employee is presumed to be intended as a reward for official action when the gift is from a private person or organization that has obtained Municipal action involving the exercise of discretion by or with the participation of the officer or employee during the preceding 12 months.
Meals and refreshments provided when a Municipal officer or employee is a speaker or participant at a job-related professional or educational conference or program and the meals and refreshments are made available to all participants.
A local Board of Ethics, to be known as the City of Watervliet Board of Ethics, is hereby established pursuant to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
The Board of Ethics shall consist of three members appointed by a majority of the City Council. One alternate may be appointed by a majority of the City Council to serve in the absence of another member.
There shall be three members of the Board of Ethics initially serving one three-year term, one two-year term and one one-year term. The alternate member shall serve for one three-year term. Subsequently, each member shall be appointed for a three-year term or until such time as a successor is appointed.
Vacancy in office. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by expiration of term, the City Council shall appoint the new member for the unexpired term.
Removal of members. The City Council shall have the power to remove, after public hearing, any member of the Board for cause.
The Board of Ethics in existence at the time of the enactment of this section shall be dissolved.
All members of the Board of Ethics must be residents of the municipality.
The members of the Board of Ethics should be qualified by temperament and experience to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Board.
No member of the Board of Ethics may hold office in a partisan political party or hold elective office in the City of Watervliet. A Board member may make campaign contributions and vote, but not otherwise participate in any City of Watervliet election campaign.
Not more than two members of the Board of Ethics may be members of the same political party.
No current officer or employee of the City of Watervliet is eligible to serve on the Board of Ethics.
Compensation. Members of the Board of Ethics shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses, as approved by the City Council.
Powers and duties of the Board of Ethics.
The Board of Ethics shall select its own Chairperson from within the Board for a one-year term and appoint such staff as necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter and to delegate authority to the Chairperson, if any, to act in the name of the Board between meetings of the Board, provided that the delegation is in writing and the specific powers to be delegated are enumerated, and further provided that the Board may not delegate the power to conduct hearings, determine violations, recommend disciplinary action, impose civil fines, refer any matter to a prosecutor or render advisory opinions, except as stated in § 28-20E(9).
To prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing its own internal organization and procedures in a manner not inconsistent with this chapter or state or federal law.
To conduct investigations pursuant to § 28-21.
To conduct hearings, recommend disciplinary action and initiate appropriate actions and proceedings pursuant to §§ 28-19 and 28-20.
To issue advisory opinions pursuant to § 28-23.
To provide ethics training and education to City officers and employees on the provisions of the City Code of Ethics and Article 18 of the General Municipal Law.
The Board of Ethics of the City of Watervliet may act only with respect to officers and employees of the municipality and persons having business dealing with the municipality. The termination of a City officer's or employee's term of office or employment with the City shall not affect the jurisdiction of the City Board of Ethics with respect to requirements imposed by this chapter on former City officers or employees to the extent permitted by law.
The City Board of Ethics may refer any matter within its jurisdiction to the County Ethics Board in its discretion.
A member of the Board of Ethics may be removed from office by a majority vote of the City Council for failure to fulfill the duties of the office or for violation of this chapter. The City Council must give the Board member written notice and an opportunity to reply.
The Board of Ethics must prepare an annual report to the City Council on its activities and recommend changes to the City Code of Ethics.
Upon receipt of a form duly sworn by the person requesting an investigation of an alleged violation of this chapter or upon the Board 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 may administer oaths or affirmations, subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance and require the production of any books or records which it may deem relevant or material. The form to be utilized in requesting an investigation of an alleged violation of this chapter shall be the form available in the office of the City Clerk and on the City website.
The City Board of Ethics investigation shall be confidential until such time that a final determination of the City Board of Ethics has been made. Thereafter, the City Board of Ethics shall state, in writing, its disposition of every sworn complaint it receives and of every investigation it conducts and shall set forth the reasons for the disposition to the City Council. Any findings of violations of this chapter or other applicable law shall be served upon the subject of the investigation within seven days of such service of any findings of violations of this chapter, and violations shall be made a public record and shall be indexed and maintained on file by the City Clerk.
In its discretion and after a hearing in accordance with Article 3 of the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA), and subject to § 75 of the Civil Service Law and any collective bargaining agreements, to the extent practicable, the City Board of Ethics may recommend for action appropriate disciplinary action which may include a written warning or reprimand, forfeiture of accrued leave with pay, required attendance at ethics training seminars, suspension or termination of employment to the authority or person or body authorized by law to impose such sanctions.
The City Board of Ethics shall conduct and complete the hearing with reasonable promptness and shall not act without notice and opportunity to be heard and shall observe appropriate due process.
The Board of Ethics shall render confidential advisory opinions only to officers and employees of the City of Watervliet with respect to Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and this Code of Ethics. Officers and employees of the municipality are encouraged to seek advisory opinions whenever they are uncertain whether their conduct may violate the Code of Ethics.
The Board of Ethics will prepare an advisory opinion based on a thorough review of the facts and applicable law. The Board's opinion is to be based solely on the facts presented in the request or subsequently submitted in a written, signed document. The opinion will be rendered, in writing, to the requester as expeditiously as is practicable, with special attention to the time requirements of a given case.
An officer or employee of the municipality whose conduct or action is the subject of an advisory opinion will not be subject to penalties or sanctions by virtue of acting, or failing to act, due to a reasonable reliance on the opinion, unless material facts were omitted or misstated in the material submitted by the requester.
The Board of Ethics will maintain a confidential, indexed file of all advisory opinions issued by the Board.
The Mayor must promptly cause a copy of this code, and a copy of any amendment to this code, to be posted publicly and conspicuously in each building under the municipality's control. The code must be posted within 10 days following the date on which the code takes effect. An amendment to the code must be posted within 10 days following the date on which the amendment takes effect.
The Mayor must promptly cause a copy of this code, including any amendments to the code, to be distributed to every person who is or becomes an officer or employee of the City of Watervliet.
Every Municipal officer or employee who receives a copy of this code, or an amendment to the code, must acknowledge such receipt in writing. Such acknowledgment must be filed with the City Clerk who must maintain such acknowledgment as a public record.
The failure to post this code, or an amendment to the code, does not affect either the applicability or enforceability of the code or the amendment. The failure of a Municipal officer or employee to receive a copy of this Code of Ethics, or an amendment to the code, or to acknowledge receipt thereof in writing, does not affect either the applicability or enforceability of the code or amendment to the code.
Any Municipal officer or employee who violates this code may be censured, fined, suspended or removed from office or employment in the manner provided by law.

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