Source: https://ecode360.com/7089878
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 00:06:14+00:00

Document:
§ 31-1 Repeal of existing Town ethics laws.
§ 31-6 Specific Town officers and employees.
§ 31-8 Exclusions from Code of Ethics and from transactional disclosure.
§ 31-9 Inducement of violations of Code of Ethics.
§ 31-10 Interests in contracts with Town.
§ 31-11 Appearances by outside employers and businesses of Town officers and employees.
§ 31-13 Applicant disclosure: generally.
§ 31-14 Applicant disclosure: land use applications.
§ 31-16 Penalties for offenses.
§ 31-18 Ethics Board: establishment.
§ 31-19 Ethics Board: additional qualifications.
§ 31-20 Ethics Board: meetings.
§ 31-21 Ethics Board: jurisdiction, powers, and duties.
§ 31-22 Review of lists and disclosure statements.
§ 31-24 Hearings; assessment of penalties; injunctive relief.
§ 31-27 Public inspection of Code of Ethics.
§ 31-28 Annual reports; review of Code of Ethics.
§ 31-29 Public inspection of records; public access to meetings.
§ 31-31 Distribution and posting.
§ 31-32 Disclosure of relationships.
§ 31-34 Failure to report.
§ 31-35 Prohibition on participation or use of influence in hiring and in setting or changing terms and conditions of employment.
The local law of the Town of Rotterdam is hereby amended by deleting and repealing the Code of Ethics adopted June 17, 1970 as Local Law No. 6 of the 1970, Code of the Town of Rotterdam and by adding hereto a new local law to replace the local law hereinabove repealed, to be "Local Law No. 19 of the Year 2001, Town of Rotterdam Code of Ethics and Disclosure Law."
This chapter, shall be known and may be cited as the "Code of Ethics and Disclosure Law of the Town of Rotterdam."
To provide for the fair and effective administration of this chapter.
This Code of Ethics represents a balancing of the need for eliminating real conflicts of interest with the recognition that membership in voluntary organizations devoted to public service is a laudable endeavor which should not be discouraged.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to § 806 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York and § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law and is not intended to authorize any conduct prohibited by Article 18 of the General Municipal Law. This chapter also supplements other provisions of law regulating ethics in local government, such as § 107 of the Civil Service Law of the State of New York.
By requiring newly hired Town employees to disclose all relationships, including cohabitant relationships, with existing Town officials, managers and employees.
This chapter shall be given its broadest possible interpretation under law, so as to implement its stated purpose.
Any board, committee, task force, study group, or similar entity which is created by the Town Board or Town Supervisor and which is authorized to make recommendations to Town officials but has no authority to implement its recommendations, act on behalf of the Town, or restrict the authority of the Town to act. Advisory boards do not include any entity consisting solely of governmental officials acting in their official capacity or any entity established pursuant to state law. Advisory board members who do not otherwise hold a position of employment or office with the Town shall not be considered Town officers or employees.
Communicating in any form, including, without limitation, personally, through another person, by letter, facsimile, electronic mail or by telephone.
Any relationship where an individual shares a residence with a Town officer, manager or employee.
Any data acquired through the course of employment or public office which the Town has protected from disclosure by law that is not protected from disclosure by law but poses or may pose a conflict of interest.
Any action or omission which is in conflict or gives or may reasonably give the appearance of conflict with the performance of official Town business or government.
An artificial person or being, endowed by law with the capacity of perpetual succession, and shall include corporations organized as public, private, charitable, civil, domestic, foreign, close, open, municipal and not-for-profit institutions.
Any person to whom a Town officer or employee has supplied goods or services during the previous 24 months having, in the aggregate, a value greater than $1,000 or any person to whom a Town 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 $1,000, but only if the officer or employee knows or has reason to know the outside employer or business supplied the goods or services.
Includes all persons, other than seasonal employees, who are not officials but whose salaries are paid in whole or part by the Town of Rotterdam.
The Ethics Board of the Town established pursuant to § 31-18 of this chapter.
Includes relationship by blood, adoption, marriage, domestic partnership, foster care and cohabitation, and includes parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, children, foster children, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, first cousins, second cousins, siblings and the spouses or domestic partners of each of these relatives and cohabitants. This definition includes any relationship that exists by virtue of marriage or domestic partnership, such as in-law and step relationships, which are covered to the same extent as blood relationships.
Shall include any money, service, license, permit, contract, authorization loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, privilege, exemption 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 authorized by law.
An action performed in a prescribed manner without the exercise of judgment or discretion as to the propriety of the act.
Any entity in which the Town officer or employee has an ownership interest, except a corporation of which the Town officer or employee owns less than 5% of the outstanding stock.
For purposes of this definition, "compensation" shall not include reimbursement for necessary expenses, including travel expenses.
A privilege granted by the State of New York to conduct an occupation or trade.
A corporation organized to construct or operate a public improvement that is located partially or totally in New York State and the profits from this corporation benefit New York State or other states or the people of New York State.
A spouse, child, stepchild, brother, sister, or parent of the Town officer or employee, or a person claimed as a dependent on the Town officer's or employee's latest individual state income tax return, or the spouse of any such person.
Any employee holding a position with the Town of Rotterdam which is performed for a period of time shorter than a full year, and said position may recur in each successive year.
Authority, direction, control or influence, including being in the same chain of command and participation in decisions about employment terms and conditions, such as those about hiring, promotion, terms and conditions, or job-related qualifications.
Includes but is not limited to setting and changing all forms of compensation or remuneration, benefits, payments, hours, shifts, transfers, assignments, working conditions, performance evaluations, promotions, training, retirement, classification, retention, evaluation, demotion, discipline and all other job-related opportunities and privileges.
The Town of Rotterdam, but shall not include the Town Court.
Any office, board, body, advisory board, council, commission, agency, department, district, administration, division, bureau, unit or committee of the Town other than the Town Court.
Any attorney licensed to practice in the State of New York, and who provides legal services to the Town, shall have his or her conduct governed by the Professional Code of Responsibility and regulated by the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court; provided, however, that any attorney providing legal services to the Town shall file a financial disclosure with the Town, in the same manner as set forth in this chapter.
Disclosure of interests. A municipal official or employee or officer who participates in discussions or gives official opinions on any matters before the Rotterdam Town Board, an official board, agency, officer or employee or officer shall publicly disclose in the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or other interest he or any member of his family has in such matters, unless he or she refrains from voting upon or otherwise participating in the matter.
Gifts. Except as set forth in § 31-8, a Town officer or employee shall not solicit anything of value from any person who has received or sought a financial benefit from the Town, nor accept anything of value from any person who the Town officer or employee knows or should reasonably have known received or sought a financial benefit from the Town within the previous 24 months. The purpose of this provision is to avoid circumstances where it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended to influence such Town officer or employee, or could reasonably be expected to influence such Town officer or employee in the performance of his or her official duties, or was intended as a reward for any official action taken by such Town officer or employee.
Use of Town property. With the exception of vehicle use by members of the Rotterdam Police Department, no Town officer or employee shall use or permit the use of Town property (including land, vehicles, equipment, materials and any other property) for personal convenience or profit, except when such use is available to Town citizens generally or is provided on the same terms and conditions as a matter of written Town policy.
Representation. A Town officer or employee shall not represent any other person in any matter that person has before the Town nor represent any other person in any matter against the interests of the Town.
Appearances. A Town officer or employee shall not appear before any agency of the Town, except on his or her own behalf or on behalf of the Town.
Confidential information. Town officers and employees and former Town officers and employees shall not disclose any confidential information or use it to further anyone's personal interests.
Revolving door. A Town officer or employee who is required to file an annual disclosure statement pursuant to § 31-12 shall not appear or practice before the particular Town agency in which the Town officer or employee served or by which he or she was employed, except on his or her own behalf, or receive compensation for working on any matter before the particular Town agency in which the Town officer or employee served or by which he or she was employed, for a period of one year after the termination of his or her Town service or employment; however, the bar shall be permanent for any Town offer or employee as to particular matters on which the Town officer or employee personally worked while in Town service that are still pending after the termination of his or her Town service or employment.
Conflict with other codes of conduct.
Recognizing the need for professional integrity and the fact that various professional associations have adopted standards of conduct for their members, the Town hereby requires that each Town officer or employee who is affected by a professional Code of Ethics be bound, in addition to the within chapter, by his/her respective code of ethics. Any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and a given professional code of conduct of a Town officer or employee is to be resolved by the Ethics Board. However, the Ethics Board must at all times give the greatest latitude to said individual's professional code of conduct and, whenever possible, reconcile this to complement and respect the individual's professional code of conduct.
Substantial consideration shall be given to the effect that deviation from an individual's professional code of conduct will have on that individual's ability to practice his/her profession. If need be, the Ethics Board is authorized and required to obtain advisory opinions from the appropriate professional association to clarify any given situation.
Professionally licensed. All Town officers and employees with professional licenses are prohibited from knowingly exercising discretion in any matter of Town interest which shall involve any person, firm or corporation which is a client of his/hers or a client of his/her firm or has been a client within the immediate past one year and shall not knowingly have any interest in or accept compensation, direct or indirect, from any person, firm or corporation which has an interest in matters coming before any Town agency or before any public benefit corporation whose members are appointed by the Supervisor or the Town Board.
Authorized to conduct inspections and issue permits. All Town officers and employees with the authority to conduct inspections or issue permit approvals shall not engage in a business or have a financial interest in any firm engaged in a business within the Town where said business conducts, as a regular and significant part of its business, matters requiring such inspections or such permits.
Office of the Assessor. Neither the Assessor nor any employee in such department shall engage in the real estate, construction, building contracting or building materials business or have financial interest in firms engaging in such business within the Town of Rotterdam during the course of his or her employment by the Town.
The foregoing Town officers and employees are listed due to the unique nature of their offices and positions which, in turn, raise ethical conflicts unique to those offices and positions. This list is not to be deemed all-inclusive. Every Town officer and employee shall endeavor to pursue a course of conduct consistent with the spirit of this chapter as well as the actual provisions and strive to act so as not to raise suspicion among the public that he/she is likely to be engaged in activities that are in violation of his/her trust.
Promptly file with the Town Clerk a signed statement disclosing the nature and extent of the prohibited action or, if a member of a board, shall state that information upon the public record of the board.
A Town officer or employee shall not be required to file a disclosure statement pursuant to this section if he or she, with respect to the same matter, has filed with the Town Clerk a disclosure statement complying with requirements of § 31-10 of this chapter.
Receipt of Town services or benefits, or use of Town facilities, that are generally available on the same terms and conditions to residents or a class of residents in the Town.
No person, whether or not a Town officer or employee, shall induce or attempt to induce a Town officer or employee to violate any of the provisions of § 31-5 of this chapter.
Prohibited interests. No Town officer or employee shall have an interest in a contract with the Town, 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 Town 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.
Discloseable interests. Any Town officer or employee who has, will have, or later acquires an interest in any actual or proposed contract with the Town shall disclose in writing the nature and extent of that interest in accordance with § 803 of the General Municipal Law and promptly file such written disclosure with the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk shall cause a copy of that disclosure to be filed promptly with the Ethics Board.
Violations. Any Town officer or employee who willfully and knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, to the extent provided by § 805 of the General Municipal Law.
Except as provided in Subsection C of this section, the outside employer or business of a Town officer or employee shall not appear before the particular agency in which the Town officer or employee serves or by which he or she is employed.
Except as provided in Subsection C of this section, the outside employer or business of a Town officer or employee shall not appear before any other Town agency if the Town officer or employee has the authority to appoint any officer, employee, or member of the agency or to review, approve, audit, or authorize any budget, bill, payment, or claim of the agency, or if there exists any likelihood that such Town officer or employee may derive, directly or indirectly, a financial benefit as a result thereof.
Receiving a Town service or benefit, or using a Town facility, which is generally available to the public on the same terms and conditions.
Town officers and employees holding job titles or positions designated by the Town Board shall file with the Ethics Board a financial disclosure statement in a form determined by the Town Board by January 31 of each year.
Compliance with this section shall be voluntary for Town officers and employees whose job titles or positions are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Members of advisory boards designated by the Town Board or Ethics Board shall file with the Ethics Board a long-form ethics certification statement. An advisory board member shall file a long-form ethics certification statement within 14 days after the date of the first advisory board meeting subsequent to that member's appointment to the advisory board.
List all positions you hold as a Town of Rotterdam employee or as a Member of a Town of Rotterdam Board, Commission, Committee or Agency.
List any positions that you hold with any other public body/entity whether paid or unpaid.
List each piece of real property you, your spouse, and/or dependent children own or have a financial interest in within the Town of Rotterdam including property that is owned, jointly owned or owned by a business entity in which the ownership interest is greater than 5%.
List each piece of real property in the Town of Rotterdam you, your spouse and/or dependent children lease including property that is owned, jointly owned or owned by a business entity in which the leasehold interest is greater than 5%.
List any business entity in which you, your spouse and/or dependent children have an ownership interest, except a private or public corporation of which you, your spouse and/or children own less than 5% of the outstanding stock.
List any business entity where you, your spouse and/or dependent children are/were employed in the last 12 months.
List all directorships or officer positions that you, your spouse, and/or dependent children hold in any business entity.
If you, your spouse and/or dependent children or any entity identified in (4) or (5) above is currently or has within the last two years been licensed and/or regulated by a Town of Rotterdam department, board, commission, committee or agency, list the name of the individual(s) or entity licensed or regulated, the name of any such Town of Rotterdam department, board, commission, committee, or agency and the type of license or permit received from the Town.
Has any individual or business entity offered or promised you any future employment or contract during or after your service with the town?
Past Employment. Identify the source and nature of any current income from any prior employer, including deferred income, contributions to a pension or retirement fund, profit sharing plan severance pay or payments under a buyout agreement.
Trusts. Identify each interest in a trust or estate or similar beneficial interest in any assets except for IRS eligible retirement plans or interests in an estate or trust of a relative for you, your spouse, or dependent children.
Other Income. Identify the source and nature of any other income in excess of $1,000 per year from any source not described above, including other employment and independent contract work, teaching income, lecture fees, consultant fees, contractual fees or other income of any nature for you, your spouse o dependent children.
Third-Party Reimbursements. Identify and describe the source of any third-party reimbursement for travel-related expenditures for any matter that relates to your official duties. The term "reimbursement" includes any travel-related expenses provided by anyone other than the Town or Rotterdam for speaking engagements, conferences, or fact-finding events that relate to your official duties.
Have you, your spouse, dependent children, or an employee of you or your spouse received any payment from the Town of Rotterdam for goods and services rendered in the past 12 months? State the name of the person (s) or entity (ies) and list the activity.
List any appearance you or your spouse made before a town or agency board, representing a private interest, or any appearance made by you in any litigation brought against the town in the past year.
List the source of all gifts aggregating in excess of $250 received during the last year by you, your spouse or dependent children, excluding gifts from a relative. The term "gifts" includes gifts of cash, property, personal items, payments to third parties on your behalf, forgiveness of debt, honorariums and any other payments that are not reported as income.
of this annual Statement of Financial disclosure constitutes a full and complete financial statement as of the date indicated, and, to the best of my knowledge, I have no conflict of interest prohibited by the Town of Rotterdam Code of Ethics for the position(s) I hold with the Town of Rotterdam.
The following certification must be executed by any member of an appointive or elective board in the Town of Rotterdam.
which matter involves an individual or entity with whom I have a personal, familial, financial or professional relationship, I shall place such relationship upon the record or recuse myself from any and all deliberations, determinations, recommendations or votes with respect to such matter.
The Town Clerk shall notify all Town officers and employees of their obligation to file a financial disclosure statement pursuant to Subsection A of this section.
The Town Supervisor or Town Board shall, within five business days, notify the Ethics Board whenever a person is appointed to an advisory board or an advisory board is created. The Town Supervisor or Town Board shall provide each advisory board member with a short-form ethics certification form upon the member's appointment to an advisory board.
The Town Clerk shall transmit within five business days to the Ethics Board each transactional and applicant disclosure statement filed pursuant to Subsection A of § 31-7 and Subsection B of § 31-10 and each short-form ethics certification statement or financial disclosure statement filed with the Clerk.
The Ethics Board shall index and maintain on file for at least seven years all financial disclosure statements and short-form ethics certification statements.
Time and place for filing. Financial disclosure statements shall be filed with the Ethics Board no later than January 31 of each year or within 30 days after an officer or employee becomes subject to the provisions of this chapter. Short-form ethics certification statements shall be filed with the Ethics Board within 14 days after the date of the first advisory board meeting subsequent to that member's appointment to the advisory board.
Extension of time for filing annual financial disclosure statement or short-form ethics certification statement.
The Ethics Board shall be empowered to grant an extension of time for filing a financial disclosure statement or a short-form ethics certification statement. In order for the Ethics Board to grant a request for an extension of time to file, the Ethics Board must find that there is justifiable cause for filing after the deadline or that application of deadline will impose an undue hardship.
A request for an extension shall be in a form determined by the Ethics Board.
Where an official or employee requests the Town or a Town officer or employee to take or refrain from taking any action (other than a ministerial act) that may result in a financial benefit both to such person and to either any officer or employee of the Town or to one of the other persons listed in §§ 31-5 and 31-6 of this chapter, such official or employee shall disclose the names of any such persons, including Town officers or employees, that may financially benefit from such action or inaction by the Town or a Town officer or employee, to the extent known to such person at the time of the request.
If the request is made in writing, the disclosure shall accompany the request. If the request is oral and made at a meeting of a public body, the disclosure shall be set forth in the public record of the body. If the request is oral and not made at a meeting of a public body, the disclosure shall be set forth in writing, filed with the Town Clerk.
Such official or employee shall not be required to file a disclosure statement pursuant to this section if he or she, with respect to the same matter, has filed a disclosure statement complying with requirements of § 31-14 of this chapter.
Disclosure. Every application, petition, or request submitted for a variance, amendment, change of zoning, approval of a plat, exemption from a plat or official map, license, or permit, pursuant to the provisions of any ordinance, local law, rule, or regulation constituting the zoning and planning regulations of the Town, shall state the name, residence and nature and extent of the interest of any Town officer or employee in the person or entity making such application, petition or request, to the extent known to such applicant and as otherwise required by § 809 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.
Any contract or agreement entered into by or with the Town which results in or from a violation of provision of § 31-5, 31-6, or 31-10 of this chapter shall be void unless ratified by the Town Board. Such ratification shall not affect the imposition of any criminal or civil penalties pursuant to this chapter or any other provision of law.
Disciplinary action. Any Town officer or employee who engages in any action that violates any provision of this chapter may be warned, reprimanded, suspended or removed from office or employment, or be subject to any other sanction authorized by law or collective bargaining agreement, by the 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.
Civil fine. Any Town officer or employee who violates any provision of this chapter may be subject to a civil fine of up to $1,500 for each violation. A civil fine may be imposed in addition to any other penalty contained in any other provision of law or in this chapter.
Damages. Any person, whether or not a Town officer or employee, who violates any provision of this chapter shall be liable in damages to the Town for any losses or increased costs incurred by the Town as a result of the violation. Such damages may be imposed in addition to any other penalty contained in any other provision of law or in this chapter.
Misdemeanor. Any person, whether or not a Town officer or employee, who intentionally or knowingly violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, if a Town officer or employee, shall forfeit his or her Town office or employment.
The action or special proceeding shall be commenced within three years after the alleged violation occurred.
Pursuant to General Municipal Law § 808, there is hereby created the Ethics Board of the Town of Rotterdam. The Ethics Board shall consist of five members to be appointed by the Town Board and otherwise governed by General Municipal Law § 808. To the extent this section is inconsistent with the provisions of § 808 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, this section shall supersede those provisions.
The term of office of Ethics Board members shall be three years, with each term running from January 1 through December 31. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
At the expiration of the terms as set forth above, appointment or reappointment shall be made for a three-year term.
The attorney for the Ethics Board shall be appointed by the Town Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. The appointment shall be reviewed annually. In the event there is a vacancy in the position of the Ethics Board attorney, created in a manner other than the annual review of the current attorney, the Ethics Board shall advertise for and conduct interviews of applicants. Upon completion of the interviews, the Ethics Board shall submit three or more names of those applicants it finds acceptable. The Town Board shall consider the Ethics Board's list prior to making the appointment.
Members of the Ethics Board shall be residents of the Town of Rotterdam.
No more than two members of the Ethics Board shall be registered in the same political party as defined by Election Law § 1-104(3).
No Ethics Board member shall be a party officer in any political party as defined by Election Law § 1-104(5), or be employed or act as a registered lobbyist pursuant to Article 1A of the Legislative Law, or hold a local, state, or federal elected office.
The Town Board shall select a Chairman and, at its first meeting each year, the Ethics Board shall elect a Vice-Chairman and Secretary from among its members. A majority shall be required for the Ethics Board to take any action. The Chairman or a majority of its members may call a meeting of the Ethics Board. The Ethics Board shall hold at least one meeting annually, regardless of whether there are any matters pending before the Ethics Board.
The Ethics Board may only act with respect to Town officers and employees of the Town.
The termination of the term of office or employment of a Town officer or employee with the Town shall not affect the jurisdiction of the Ethics Board with respect to the requirements imposed on him or her by this chapter.
To prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing its own internal organization and procedures in a manner consistent with this chapter as so authorized by the Town Board.
To review, index, and maintain on file lists of Town officers and employees and disclosure statements filed with the Ethics Board, pursuant to this chapter.
To recommend annually the names of any other Town officers or employees that the Ethics Board determines should file a financial disclosure statement.
To make recommendations related to the form and content of the financial disclosure statement.
To make recommendations related to the form and content of the short-form ethics certification statement.
To otherwise enforce and administer all of the provisions of this chapter.
If a person required to file an annual or transactional disclosure statement with the Ethics Board has failed to file such a statement, has filed a deficient statement, or, having filed such a statement, reveals a possible or potential violation of this chapter, the Ethics Board shall notify the reporting person in writing of such deficiency or possible or potential violation and of the penalties for failure to comply with this chapter and provide the person with a fifteen-day period to cure the deficiency.
The Supervisor and the Town Board.
Upon written request, afford the affected person a hearing wherein this affected person may provide either a written or oral response setting forth such information as the affected person deems necessary or appropriate in response to the actions by the Ethics Board.
Upon receipt of a sworn 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 Ethics Board shall have the power and duty to conduct any investigation necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
The Ethics Board shall state in writing the disposition of every sworn complaint it receives and of every investigation it conducts and shall set forth the reasons for the disposition. All such statements and all sworn complaints shall be indexed and maintained on file by the Ethics Board.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the Ethics Board to conduct an investigation of itself or of any of its members or staff. If the Ethics Board receives a complaint alleging that the Ethics Board or any of its members or staff has violated any provision of this chapter, or any other law, the Ethics Board shall promptly transmit to the Town Board a copy of the complaint. The Ethics Board may request the Schenectady County Ethics Commission to conduct an investigation of itself or of any of its members or staff.
Disciplinary action. In its discretion, after a hearing providing for due process procedural mechanisms and subject to any applicable provisions of law and collective bargaining agreements, the Ethics Board may recommend appropriate disciplinary action pursuant to Subsection A of § 31-16 of this chapter. The recommendation of the Ethics Board shall be made to Supervisor and the Town Board or such other person or body authorized by law to impose such disciplinary action. The Ethics Board shall conduct and complete the hearing with reasonable promptness, unless in its discretion the Ethics Board refers the matter to the Town Board or such other person or body authorized by law to impose disciplinary action or unless the Ethics Board refers the matter to the appropriate prosecutor. If such a referral is made, the Ethics Board may adjourn the matter pending determination by the Town Board, person, body, or prosecutor, as the case may be.
Civil fine. In its discretion and after a hearing providing for due process procedural mechanisms, the Ethics Board, pursuant to Subsection B of § 31-16 of this chapter, may assess a civil fine, not to exceed $1,500 for each violation, upon any Town officer or employee found by the Ethics Board to have violated this chapter. The Ethics Board shall conduct and complete the hearing with reasonable promptness. The civil fine shall be payable to the Town.
Damages. The Town Board may initiate an action in the court of appropriate jurisdiction to obtain damages, as provided in Subsection C of § 31-16 of this chapter.
Injunctive relief. The Town Board, or the Ethics Board on behalf of the Town, may initiate an action or special proceeding, as appropriate, in the court of appropriate jurisdiction for injunctive relief to enjoin a violation of this chapter or to compel compliance with this chapter as provided in § 31-17 of this chapter.
Prosecutions. The Ethics Board 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.
Upon the written request of any Town officer or employee or Town resident, the Ethics Board may render a written advisory opinion with respect to the interpretation or application of this chapter or of Article 18 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York.
In rendering advisory opinions, the Ethics Board may request the advice and counsel of the attorney employed by the Ethics Board or, if none, the Town Attorney.
An advisory opinion rendered by the Ethics Board, until and unless amended or revoked, shall be binding on the Ethics Board in any subsequent proceeding concerning the person who requested the opinion and who acted in good faith, unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the person in the request for an opinion. Such opinion may also be relied upon by such person and may be introduced and shall be a defense in any criminal or civil action. Such requests shall be confidential, but the Ethics Board may publish such opinions, provided that the name of the requesting person and other identifying details shall not be included in the publication.
Any person aggrieved by an advisory opinion of the Ethics Board may seek judicial review and relief pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the State of New York.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Ethics Board may seek judicial review and relief pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the State of New York.
The Ethics Board shall make information concerning this chapter and Article 18 of the General Municipal Law available to the Town officers and employees, to the public, and to persons interested in doing business with the Town.
The Ethics Board shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Supervisor and the Town Board, summarizing the activities of the Ethics Board by April 15 for the previous fiscal year.
The Ethics Board shall periodically review this chapter and the Ethics Board's rules, regulations, and administrative procedures to determine whether they promote integrity, public confidence, and participation in Town government and whether they set forth clear and enforceable, common sense standards of conduct. At any time, the Ethics Board may recommend changes to the text or administration of this chapter to the Town Board.
Assessments of civil penalties, sanction, discipline or other action taken or imposed as provided in §§ 31-16 and 31-24 of this chapter.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 of the Public Officers Law or by other applicable state or federal law or regulation, no meeting or proceeding of the Ethics Board, including any such proceeding contemplated under § 31-23 of this chapter, shall be open to the public, except upon the request of the Town officer or employee under investigation, or, as expressly provided otherwise by the Town Board.
Within 30 days after the effective date of this section, and thereafter as appropriate, the Ethics Board shall transmit to the Supervisor and Town Clerk, in a form suitable for posting, copies of those provisions of this chapter which the Town Board deems necessary for posting in the Town. Within 10 days after receipt of those copies, the Town Clerk shall cause the copies to be posted conspicuously in a place designated for the posting of public notices.
Within 30 days after the effective date of this section, and thereafter as appropriate, the Ethics Board shall transmit to the Supervisor, or other Town officer or employee as designated by the Supervisor, in a form suitable for distribution, copies of those provisions of this chapter which the Town Board deems necessary for distribution to the Town officers and employees. Within 10 days after receipt of those copies, the Supervisor, or his or her designee, shall cause the copies to be distributed to every Town officer and employee, and made readily available to the public. Every Town officer or employee elected or appointed thereafter shall be furnished a copy of those provisions within 10 days after entering upon the duties of his or her position.
All individuals who apply for employment with the Town of Rotterdam must disclose all known family relationships and cohabitant relationships with existing Town officers, managers and employees. Information concerning cohabitant relationships will be treated as confidential and disclosed only on a need-to-know basis.
All current Town officers, managers and employees must disclose all known family relationships and cohabitant relationships with existing Town employees, managers and public officials no later than 60 days from the effective date of this article and, thereafter, on an annual basis. Should new family relationships or cohabitant relationships arise, they must be disclosed within 60 days of their inception. Information concerning cohabitant relationships will be treated as confidential.
Town officers, managers and employees may not supervise Town employees with whom they have a known family relationship or cohabitant relationship. Information concerning cohabitant relationships will be treated as confidential.
Following receipt of information establishing that a family relationship or cohabitant relationship exists, in consultation with the attorney for the Ethics Board, alternate arrangements will be made so that no Town officer, manager, or employee performs supervision for and/or influences in any manner the terms and conditions of employment of any individual with whom that individual has a family relationship or cohabitant relationship.
Any individual who fails to disclose her or his known family relationship or cohabitant relationship with Town office managers or employees shall be ineligible for hiring or continued employment by the Town.
No officer, manager or employee may attempt to influence the Town or any official, manager or employee to hire, promote, or change the terms and conditions of employment of any individual with whom that person has a family relationship or cohabitant relationship. No official, manager or employee may delegate such authority to a subordinate to participate in such personnel decisions.
The Human Resource Coordinator shall be responsible for collection of information concerning family relationships and cohabitation relationships. Such information shall also be provided to the attorney for the Ethics Board. Such information will be preserved for a minimum of five years.
The Human Resource Coordinator shall be responsible for identifying and implementing alternate arrangements, after mandatory consultation with the attorney for the Ethics Board, should an official, manager or employee provide supervision to, directly or indirectly, any individual with whom she or he has a family relationship or cohabitation relationship. In the event that a relationship may exist between the Human Resource Coordinator and any other Town official, manager or employee, the attorney for the Ethics Board shall make such alternate arrangements.
Any Town employee who becomes aware that an officer, manager or employee has attempted to influence the Town, its officers, managers or employees to hire, promote, or change the terms and conditions of employment of any individual with whom that person has a family relationship or cohabitant relationship shall report that attempt to the attorney for the Ethics Board.
This article shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York. To provide for the fair and effective administration of this chapter, the supervisory provisions contained in this article shall not apply to employees hired prior to the effective date of this article.

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