The Ethics Board was asked if a Town of Brookhaven Department Head can participate in the auction to purchase vacant, surplus property that the Town intends to sell. In their deliberation, the Ethics Board referenced two sections of the Ethics Code which refer to the question asked. Ethics Code 28-1 Section B: “The proper administration of the government of the Town of Brookhaven requires its officers and employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid, including members of any administrative boards, commissions or other agencies, to be impartial and free from conflicts of interest, or even the appearance of conflicts, and free from partisan political influences in fulfilling their public responsibilities. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards of conduct and guidance to the officers, employees and appointees of the Town of Brookhaven.
The Ethics Board also referenced Ethics Code 28-5 A (2): General prohibition. A Town officer or employee shall not use his or her official position or office, or take or fail to take any action, in a manner which he or she knows or has reason to know may result in a personal benefit, financial or otherwise, for any of the following persons: (a) The Town officer or employee; (b) His or her outside employer or business; (c) A member of his or her household; (d) A customer or client (current or within the past five years); or (e) A family member.
The Ethics Board has determined that this would be an apparent violation of the Code of Ethics.
