Portion of the Ethics Provisions of the Charter of the City of New York, Chapter 68 (Conflict of Interest), section 2604, as it applies to Community Board Members.
Public service is one of the highest enterprises an individual may choose to undertake, and the dedication of time, energy, and talent in the execution of their duties reflects on the character of the individual, their community, and the entire Borough of the Bronx. As early as the 1980s, in New York City certain public servants were prohibited from having any interest in any contract under local government jurisdiction. During the subsequent years, there has been an expressed policy against public officers and employees using their positions to further their personal interests. In 1988 and 1989 the voters of New York City approved charter revisions with a new conflicts of interest code, which is today’s Charter Chapter 68.
The following portions are extracted from the New York City Charter, Chapter 68 and are meant to be a reference for the standard of conduct of a community board member relative to potential conflicts of interests.
Portions of the Ethics Provisions of the Charter of the City of New York, Chapter 68 (Conflicts of Interest), Section 2604, as it applies to Community Board Members.
(From the Council of the City of New York ETHICS MANUAL)
2601.19. Definition. “Public Servant” means all officials, officers, and employees of the city, including members of community boards and members of advisory committees.
2604. Prohibited interests and conduct. Prohibited interests in firms engaged in business with the city.
In the case of an appointed community board member no public servant shall engage in any business, transaction, or private employment, or have any financial or other private interest, direct or indirect, which is in conflict with the proper discharge of his or her official duties.
2604.1(a) A community board member shall not be prohibited from having an interest in a firm which may be affected by an action on a matter before the community or borough board, however,
2604.3(a) an individual who has such an ownership interest shall, within ten days of knowing the business dealing, either divest the ownership interest; or 2604.3(b) disclose to the board such ownership interest and comply with its order.
2604.4 When an individual or public servant discloses an interest to the board, the board shall issue an order setting forth whether such interest, if maintained, would be in conflict with the proper discharge of the public servant’s official duties.
2604.6.(b) Prohibited conduct. A public servant who has an interest in a firm which is not prohibited shall not take any action as a public servant particularly affecting that interest, except that a community board member may not vote on any matter before the community or borough board which may result in a direct economic gain to the member or any person with whom the member is associated.
No public servant shall use or attempt to use his or her position to obtain any financial gain, contract, license, privilege, or other private or personal advantage, for the public servant or any person or firm associated with the public servant. No public servant shall attempt to influence the course of any proposed legislation without publicly disclosing on official records, as the case may be, the nature and extent of any direct or indirect financial or other private interests he or she may have in such legislation.
2604.9(a) No public servant shall attempt to coerce, by intimidation, threats, or otherwise any officer or employee of the city to engage in political activities.