Board OKs changes to town Ethics Law
WOODSTOCK, N.Y. >> Town Board members have adopted changes to the town Ethics Law that reduces the amount of value that officials and employees can accept in gifts from $75 to $50 during a calendar year.
The revision was adopted during a meeting last week, with language updated to clarify that the gifts would be limited from the “same donor or group of affiliated donors” rather than stating it would be from “one source.”
Board members have been seeking to update the Ethics Law for nearly a decade but had been unable to agree on language that identified the type of gifts provided as well as actions taken by members of appointed boards.
“We really had a basis for a document from all those years,” Supervisor Bill McKenna said. “We just finally got consensus for it. There were about 17 different versions that we’re very similar ... and I think everybody they were just ready to move forward.”
Under the revisions a gift would have to “reasonably appear” it was intended to influence the “exercise or performance” of official duties or considered to be a “reward for any official action” by an official or employee.
The law expands prohibitions against exerting political pressure between town officials and employees. Instead simply prohibiting campaign contributions or political participation the revision identify areas of concern to money, service, political activity or solicitation.
“No town officer or employee shall directly or indirectly ... make political activity, including a contribution of money or service, as a condition of appointing, hiring, promoting, discharging, or in any manner charging the rank status, responsibilities, or compensation of ... an applicant for town officer or employee position,” officials wrote.
Language was also added to the identification of gifts and benefits, which would exclude items given from family members and personal relationships; ceremonial gifts during marriages, retirements and birthdays; unsolicited advertising or promotional material such as pens, mugs an calendars; complimentary attendance at charitable, political and community events related to an official position; and general discounts that are also made available to the general public.
Under the changes there would be prohibitions for town Ethics Board members to participate in election campaigns for town offices.
“This prohibition on participation shall include letters to publications, broadcasts over radio and television, or use of social media that promote or denigrate candidates,” officials wrote.