PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #3 CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE TOWN OF BRANT (CHAPTER 19, ARTICLE II, §19-4 and §19-5) § 19-4. Conflicts of Interest No official or employee may take any action that provides a financial or other personal benefit to the official, relative, customers, clients, an employer, or a person who has made campaign contributions to the official within a 12 month period. As contained in the general rule of law, Town Board members will not vote for themselves in any situation that appears to be a conflict of interest(s). § 19-5. Appearance of Impropriety All Officials must avoid circumstances that compromise his/her ability to make decisions solely in the public interest or create an appearance of impropriety. A. Recusal An official or employee must recuse himself when faced with the above conflicts. B. Recusal Defined Recusal means that the official may not deliberate, vote or participate in any way in that matter. The official should disclose his conflict and remove him or herself from the board. He should not provide input regarding the matter from the audience in his capacity as a member of the public. C. Town Property and Resources No employee may use town-owned property, assets or any resources for personal purposes or profit or to benefit any person. Use of these resources is restricted to the conduct of official business, for the benefit of all residents and to further an authorized public purpose. D. Nepotism Spouses and other family members of the municipal official may not serve in positions whose duties conflict or appear to conflict within the duties of the official. They may not serve on a commission, board or body of which the official is a member. E. Gifts An official may not solicit any gift nor may he receive any gift, whether financial or in any other form from any person who is doing or seeking to do business of any kind with the town including applications for permits or approvals; has done business with the town during the last 24 months; or from a lobbyist representing a person before a town agency. An official may not solicit or receive any gift or payment as a reward for exercise of official duties. Generally, an official may not receive or solicit any gift, creating the appearance that his official duties may be influenced or that his responsibility to make impartial decisions solely in the public interest is compromised. F. Private Employment An official shall not solicit, negotiate for or commit to accept private employment from any person doing business with or having any matter pending with the town. G. Representation An official shall not appear on behalf of, or represent a person in any matter before a municipal agency except on his own behalf. H. Confidential Information An official or former official may not disclose confidential information or use it to further his or another persons private interests or in any way utilize the information for non-public purposes. I. Subordinates No official shall solicit political contributions from subordinates or request that they attend political functions or engage in any political activity. J. Revolving Door No official who has left municipal service shall appear before or receive compensation in a matter before his former agency for a period of 2 years after departure. He is permanently barred from appearing or receiving compensation regarding a matter he was personally involved in as a town official. K. Incompatible Positions ? Judicial Standards An official is prohibited from: a. Holding more than one position with the town when one is subordinate to the other b. Holding more than one position with the town when the duties of the positions conflict.