CODE OF ETHICS POLICY
of the
Village of Highland Falls High-Point Utility
Local Development Corporation (HPU)
This Code of Ethics shall apply to all officers and employees of the HPU.
These policies shall serve as a guide for official conduct and are intended to enhance the ethical and professional performance of the HPU's directors and employees and to preserve public confidence in the HPU’s mission.
Responsibility of Directors and Employees
1. Directors and employees shall perform their duties with transparency
and refrain from engaging in outside matters of financial or personal interest, including other employment, that could impair independence of judgment, or prevent the proper exercise of one's official duties.
2. Directors and employees shall not directly or indirectly, make, advise, or
assist any person to make any financial investment based upon information
available through the director's or employee's official position that could create any conflict between their public duties and interests and their private interests.
3. Directors and employees shall not accept or receive any gift or gratuities
where the circumstances would permit the inference that: (a) the gift is intended to influence the individual in the performance of official business or (b) the gift constitutes a tip, reward, or sign of appreciation for any official act by the individual. This prohibition extends to any form of financial payments, services, loans, travel reimbursement, entertainment,
hospitality, thing or promise from any entity doing business with or
before the HPU.
4. Directors and employees shall not use or attempt to use their official
position with the HPU to secure unwarranted privileges for themselves,
members of their family or others, including employment with the HPU or
contracts for materials or services with the HPU.
5. Directors and employees must conduct themselves at all times in a
manner that avoids any appearance that they can be improperly or unduly
influenced, that they could be affected by the position of or relationship with any other party, or that they are acting in violation of their public trust.
6. Directors and employees may not engage in any official transaction with
an outside entity in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest that may reasonably conflict with the proper discharge of their official duties.
7. Directors and employees shall manage all matters within the scope of the
HPU’s mission independent of any other affiliations or employment.
Directors, including ex officio board members, and employees employed by more than one government shall strive to fulfill their professional responsibility to the HPU without bias and shall support the HPU’s mission to the fullest.
8. Directors and employees shall not use HPU property, including
equipment, telephones, vehicles, computers, or other resources, or disclose
information acquired in the course of their official duties in a manner inconsistent with State or local law or policy and the HPU’s mission and goals.
9. Directors and employees are prohibited from appearing or practicing
before the Authority for two (2) years following employment with the HPU,
consistent with the provisions of the Public Officers Law.
Implementation of Code of Ethics
This Code of Ethics shall be provided to all directors and employees upon
commencement of employment or appointment and shall be reviewed annually by the Governance Committee.
The Board may designate an Ethics Officer, who shall report to the Board and shall have the following duties:
• Counsel in confidence HPU directors and employees who seek advice
about ethical behavior.
• Receive and investigate complaints about possible ethics violations.
• Dismiss complaints found to be without substance.
• Prepare an investigative report of their findings for action by the Executive Director (if any) or the Board.
• Record the receipt of gifts or gratuities of any kind received by a director
or employee, who shall notify the Ethics Officer within 48 hours of receipt
of such gifts and gratuities.
Penalties
In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, an HPU
director or employee who knowingly and intentionally violates any of the
provisions of this code may be removed in the manner provided for in law, rules or regulations.
Reporting Unethical Behavior
Employees and directors are required to report possible unethical behavior by a director or employee of the HPU to the Ethics Officer. Employees and
directors may file ethics complaints anonymously and are protected from
retaliation by this provision.