Town of Ballston Ethics Committee Meeting
Notes taken by a town resident on 10/29/18
In Attendance:
Chairman: Michael Prezioso
Board Members: Lee-Ann Mertzlufft, Steven Zarelli, James Towne
Town Attorney: Debra Kaelin
Town Clerk (as secretary): Carol Gumienny
From the Public: Kathy Wilcox
Chairman states the ethics board’s charge is to review forms for disclosure and completeness and to review ethics complaints submitted.
Last meeting was on April 9th. Chairman states a couple of forms were not submitted. Town Clerk states all forms have been submitted now.
Chairman states last meeting had possible conflicts brought up around the sewer proposal in regards to ethics violations. He states since the sewer was defeated he feels this would no longer pertain.
Ms. Mertzlufft asks if there could be financial conflicts from ethics forms submitted.
Mr. Towne requested executive session (public must leave the room) Exec session lasted 15 minutes
Ms. Mertzlufft asks when the meeting minutes are recorded will names be redacted and will the discussion be written as is? Ms. Kaelin states she will work with the town clerk to take out confidential info and minutes will have this confidential content retracted.
Chairman asks what is our scope - Do we operate within the confines of the town code which is not really spelled out. The town board needs to direct the ethics board on the issue of what this board needs to do.
Ms. Mertzlufft asks what is the purpose of this committee, why are we here. It has taken us 6 months to have a meeting and when we met in Jan it was brought up what was our role.
Chairman states this board needs a fifth member. He will ask for a meeting with town supervisor to discuss the need for another member and to ask about the confines of their ordinance. It was mentioned to ask supervisor to put in the Ballston Bulletin the need for another board member.
Ms. Kaelin states per town board ethics code 14-6 this board has no authority to request info on people in regards to conflicts. Other board members state this has been done for many years.
Motion to adjourn made. I asked am I able to make a comment or ask a question. I was told no, public comments are not allowed. Second motion to adjourn made.
***Please note handout was given at beginning of meeting with research done on possible conflicts brought up on individuals from the 4/9 meeting. After discussion that this board does not have the right to perform this, all handouts were returned. Also, meeting minutes previously on the town website for the 4/9 meeting have been removed as of 10/30***
Chairman states the ethics board’s charge is to review forms for disclosure and completeness and to review ethics complaints submitted.
Last meeting was on April 9th. Chairman states a couple of forms were not submitted. Town Clerk states all forms have been submitted now.
Chairman states last meeting had possible conflicts brought up around the sewer proposal in regards to ethics violations. He states since the sewer was defeated he feels this would no longer pertain.
Ms. Mertzlufft asks if there could be financial conflicts from ethics forms submitted.
Mr. Towne requested executive session (public must leave the room) Exec session lasted 15 minutes
Ms. Mertzlufft asks when the meeting minutes are recorded will names be redacted and will the discussion be written as is? Ms. Kaelin states she will work with the town clerk to take out confidential info and minutes will have this confidential content retracted.
Chairman asks what is our scope - Do we operate within the confines of the town code which is not really spelled out. The town board needs to direct the ethics board on the issue of what this board needs to do.
Ms. Mertzlufft asks what is the purpose of this committee, why are we here. It has taken us 6 months to have a meeting and when we met in Jan it was brought up what was our role.
Chairman states this board needs a fifth member. He will ask for a meeting with town supervisor to discuss the need for another member and to ask about the confines of their ordinance. It was mentioned to ask supervisor to put in the Ballston Bulletin the need for another board member.
Ms. Kaelin states per town board ethics code 14-6 this board has no authority to request info on people in regards to conflicts. Other board members state this has been done for many years.
Motion to adjourn made. I asked am I able to make a comment or ask a question. I was told no, public comments are not allowed. Second motion to adjourn made.
***Please note handout was given at beginning of meeting with research done on possible conflicts brought up on individuals from the 4/9 meeting. After discussion that this board does not have the right to perform this, all handouts were returned. Also, meeting minutes previously on the town website for the 4/9 meeting have been removed as of 10/30***
No comments:
Post a Comment