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MINUTES
Town of Greenburgh Board of Ethics
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Town Hall, Steven Belasco Conference Center
Board Members Present: Doris Friedman, Esq.; Christopher Cuomo, Esq.; Craig Zumsteg; Blase Spinozzi
Volunteer Counsel: Joseph Malara, Esq.
Also Present:
Thomas Bock; Hal Samis; Rodney Lederer-Plaskett; Catherine Lederer-Plaskett; Dorine Livson; Nicholas Perrone; Ella Preiser; Carol Sarcinella.
- Meeting was convened at 6:30 p.m. A quorum of the Board of Ethics was present.
- Agenda amended as per motion of the Chair and adopted.
- Adopted minutes of the May 7, 2019 meeting.
- Financial Disclosure Forms. As per email from David Fried dated 6/20/19, Blase Spinozzi reported as follows:
Management (Appointed & Elected Officials): Forms sent 50, Forms Returned 46 (92%).
Boards & Commissions: Forms sent 47, Forms returned 25 (53%).
Non-incumbent candidates for Town Board: 3 Forms received.
- Ethics Training: As per email from David Fried dated 6/20/19, Blase Spinozzi reported as follows:
100 % complete with the exception of the new Town Board Member and the Receiver of Taxes.
Over the summer and into the fall, Mr. Fried will focus on setting up training for management.
- Public Comments:Mr. Samis inquired about the status of the proposed changes to the Financial Disclosure Forms. He was advised by the Chair that the matter has been referred to the Town Board for their consideration.
Mr. Samis inquired of the board whether it had any questions or comments with reference to his recent correspondence sent to the BOE. The Board had none.
Mr. Samis once again requested the BOE revisit a matter heard and decided upon by the BOE ten years earlier, to which he was advised this BOE was not in a position to honor such a request. Mr. Samis expressed his opinion that the BOE was powerless to impose penalties on those who breach the Town’s Code of Ethics. Once again he was assured by the Chair that the Board is not without power, and will appropriately deal with any infractions that are confirmed after due process.
- Mr. Cuomo, due to what he perceived may be a conflict of interest regarding the citizen’s complaint brought against Mr. Kenneth Jones, formally recused himself from this matter, and physically removed himself from the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
- Complaint against Town Board Member Kenneth Jones brought by Rodney Lederer-Plasket:While the BOE was previously in receipt of the brief filed by Mr. Lederer-Plasket, Mr. Lederer-Plasket at this time highlighted and explained to the BOE the details of the allegations contained in his complaint. At this time Mr. Lederer-Plasket advised the BOE that he will be amending the complaint, and said his amended complaint would be received by the BOE shortly -- at least before our next meeting date.
Following Mr. Lederer-Plasket’s allocution of the various sections of the Code of Ethics that he alleges Mr. Jones to be in violation of, the following spoke in support of the complaint: Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, Ella Preiser, Tom Bock, Hal Samis and Carol Sarcinella.
- The Chair thanked all for their comments and for being present. The public session ended at 8 p.m., at which time the BOE entered deliberations on the allegations set forth in the complaint against Mr. Jones. The BOE, while reaching preliminary conclusions on this matter, felt in the interest of efficiency and prudence, withheld any opinion at this time, awaiting any amended forthcoming complaint.
- The meeting ended at 8:55 p.m.
- The next meeting will be 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 23. 2019.
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