2020                      6110

Personnel

 

SUBJECT:    CODE OF ETHICS FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL DISTRICT PERSONNEL

 

General Provisions

Officers and employees of the District hold their positions to serve and benefit the public, and not to obtain unwarranted personal or private gain in the exercise of their official powers and duties. The Board recognizes that, in furtherance of this fundamental principle, there is a need for clear and reasonable standards of ethical conduct.

 

The provisions of this policy are intended to supplement Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and any other law relating to ethical conduct of District officers and employees, and should not be construed to conflict with those authorities.

 

Standards of Conduct

The following rules and standards of conduct apply to all officers, including Board members, and employees of the District.

 

Gifts

No person may directly or indirectly solicit, accept, or receive any gift having a value of $75 or more under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended or expected to influence the individual in the performance of his or her official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on the part of the individual. This prohibition applies to any gift, including money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or any other form.

 

Confidential Information

No person may disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the course of his or her official duties or use this information to further his or her personal interests.

 

Conflicts of Interest

Except as permitted by law, no person may have an interest in any contract with the District when he or she, individually, or as a member of the Board, has the power or duty to:  negotiate, prepare, authorize, or approve the contract or authorize or approve payment under the contract; audit bills or claims under the contract; or appoint an officer or employee who has any of these powers or duties.

 

Likewise, unless permitted by law, no chief fiscal officer, treasurer, or his or her deputy or employee, may have an interest in a bank or trust company designated as a depository, paying agent, registration agent, or for investment of funds of the District.

 

No employee, officer, or agent will participate in selecting, awarding, or administering a contract supported by a federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. These conflicts could arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization that employs or is about to employ any of these parties has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal interest benefit from a firm considered for a contract. Employees, officers, and agents will not solicit or accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts. The District may, however, set standards for situations where the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value.

 

“Interest,” as used in this policy, means a direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a District officer or employee as the result of a contract with the District. A District officer or employee will be considered to have an interest in the contract of:  his or her spouse, minor children and dependents, except a contract of employment with the District; a firm, partnership or association of which he or she is a member or employee; a corporation of which he or she is an officer, director or employee; and a corporation any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by him or her.

 

The provisions of the preceding four paragraphs should not be construed to preclude the payment of lawful compensation and necessary expenses of any District officer or employee in one or more positions of public employment, not prohibited by law.

 

Representing Others in Matters Before the District

No person may receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services rendered in relation to any matter before the District. Likewise, no one may receive, or enter into any agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services rendered in relation to any matter before the District, where the individual’s compensation is contingent upon any action by the District with respect to the matter.

 

Disclosure of Interest in Contracts and Resolutions

Any District officer or employee who has, will have, or later acquires an interest in or whose spouse has, will have or later acquires an interest in any actual or proposed contract, purchase agreement, lease agreement, or other agreement, including oral agreements, with the District must publicly disclose the nature and extent of that interest in writing. The disclosure must be made when the officer or employee first acquires knowledge of the actual or prospective interest, and must be filed with the person’s immediate supervisor and the Board. Any written disclosure will be made part of and included in the official minutes of the relevant Board meeting.

 

Investments in Conflict with Official Duties

No person may invest or hold any investment directly or indirectly in any financial, business, commercial, or other private transaction, that creates a conflict with his or her official duties, or that would otherwise impair his or her independence of judgment in the exercise or performance of his or her official powers or duties.

 

Private Employment

No person may engage in, solicit, negotiate for, or promise to accept private employment or render services for private interests when that employment or service creates a conflict with or impairs the proper discharge of his or her official duties.

 

Future Employment

No person may, after the termination of service or employment with the District, appear before the District on behalf of his or her employer in relation to any case, proceeding, or application in which he or she personally participated during the period of his or her service or employment with the District or which was under his or her active consideration while he or she was with the District.

 

Notice of Code of Ethics and General Municipal Law Sections 800-809

The Superintendent will ensure that a copy of this code of ethics is distributed to every District officer and employee, and that a copy of General Municipal Law Sections 800-809 is posted conspicuously in each District building. The failure to distribute this code of ethics or to post General Municipal Law Sections 800-809 will have no effect on either the duty of District officers and employees to comply with their provisions, or the ability of the District or other relevant authorities to enforce them.

 

Penalties

Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any of the provisions of this policy may be fined, suspended, removed from office or employment, or subject to additional or other penalties as provided by law.

 

 

• Education Law § 410
• General Municipal Law Article 18 and §§ 800-809
• 2 CFR § 200.318(c)(1)

 

 

Adopted:  2001

Revised:  1/14/03; 8/24/11; 9/22/20