The
East Greenbush Town Board is holding a Public Hearing on September 21, 2016 at
6:15 p.m. concerning amendments to the Town Code of Ethics.
The
proposed amendments would prohibit Town employees from being Committee Members
“in a political party represented on the election ballot.” Whither the 1st Amendment?
This
prohibition is far more restrictive than those contained in the current Ethics
Law, which are more restrictive than those contained in the NYS Office of the
State Comptroller’s “Model Code of Ethics for Local Governments”.
For
the record, I strongly support, endorse and demand ethical behavior by elected
and appointed officials at ALL levels of government.
I
also, as Chair of the East Greenbush Democratic Committee, strongly support and
endorse the local party Committee structure.
Committees find qualified candidates for local office, carry petitions
to get them on the ballot and help elect them.
Ditto State and Federal candidates.
Any enrolled party member can perform these same duties! This is democracy in action!
Reminds
me of the spate of voter ID laws enacted in many States to eliminate voter
fraud – a non-existent problem. Courts
have stricken down many of these laws!
The
proposed Ethics Law addresses a similarly non-existent problem –
campaigning in Town Hall!
Overreach? The Town Board recently allowed the DPW
Commissioner to reside in Rensselaer, Albany, Washington or Columbia County.
The
proposed Ethics Law would prohibit DPW Commissioners from being party Committee
Members in their home town, even though they may live in the far reaches
of these adjacent counties!
Also,
the Town Board intends to review its residency requirement as it applies to all
Town positions. More outsourcing of Town
jobs?
The
Town Board’s overreach is outrageous and must stop now!
Pete
Stenson, Chair
East
Greenbush Democratic Committee
