|
|
|
|
|
MINUTES
Town of Greenburgh Board of Ethics
6:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Town Hall, Lee F. Jackson Conference Room
Board Members Present: Timothy Hays (Chair); Trudy Holand (Secretary); Jacqueline Baranov (Member); Blase Spinozzi (Member, by way of Videoconference).
Also Present: Amanda Magana, Esq., Deputy Town Attorney; Volunteer Counsel Joseph Malara, Esq.
- The meeting was convened at 6:32 p.m. A quorum of the Board of Ethics was present.
- Congratulations to Jacqueline Baranov on her recent appointment by the Town Board to the Board of Ethics.
- AGENDA: The Agenda, as per motion of the Chair, was unanimously adopted.
- MINUTES: The minutes of the November 17, 2022 meeting, as per motion of the Chair, were unanimously approved.
- ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Upon nomination by Timothy Hays, Blase Spinozzi was nominated to serve as Chairperson for year 2023, and was unanimously confirmed by the Board.
Upon nomination by Timothy Hays, Trudy Holand was nominated to serve as Secretary for year 2023, and was unanimously confirmed by the Board.
- ADVISORY OPINIONS: The Board of Ethics was in receipt of two requests for Advisory Opinions.
The first request was whether the Town Board should accept a $2,000 donation from the Metropolis CC to be used by the Department of Parks and Recreation in furtherance of the Children’s Camp Fund.
The Board of Ethics sent interrogatories to the Town Board relevant to the offered donation, and said interrogatories were responded to on behalf of the Town Board by Acting Town Attorney Joseph Danko.
Upon receipt of the response to the interrogatories, the Board of Ethics concluded there was nothing barring the Town from accepting the generous gift from the Metropolis CC.
The second request for an Advisory Opinion was from Supervisor Feiner relative to pending legislation before the Town Board involving how newly-constructed condominiums in the Town of Greenburgh were to be taxed in the future. As a condo owner, Mr. Feiner asked for an opinion from the Board of Ethics as to whether he should recuse himself in this matter.
After hearing from a member of the public, and upon deliberation by the Board of Ethics, it was unanimously concluded by the BoE that this proposed legislation could potentially have an effect on the value of existing condos within the Town of Greenburgh; accordingly, the BoE recommended that any Town Board member owning a condominium within the Town of Greenburgh consider recusing themselves in this matter.
Written Advisory Opinions will follow.
- ETHICS TRAINING: Deputy Town Attorney Magana reported to the Board of Ethics that all new employees have completed ethics training, which is given every three years.
- FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS: Deputy Town Attorney Magana reported that Financial Disclosure Forms will be sent to all Management, Elected Officials and Board Members who have an obligation to file a Financial Disclosure Form, together with a reminder that these forms must be returned to the Town no later than May 15, 2023.
- CORRESPONDENCE: The Chair reported there were two pieces of correspondence sent to the Board of Ethics. Said correspondence was shared with the members of the Board. There was no comment from the Board on the correspondence.
- VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF ETHICS: Mr. Spinozzi reported that Dr. Thomas Hopkins has tentatively been approved by the Town Board to serve on the Board of Ethics and is awaiting appointment pending is completion of required mandatory training.
The Chair will remind the Town Board that we are in need of alternate members on the Board.
- The next meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023, to take place at Greenburgh Town Hall.
- The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
Submitted by:Trudy Holand, Secretary
|