Oswego Mayor William Barlow explains why he wants to create an ethic board.
OSWEGO, NY – At its meeting Monday night, the Common Council set a public hearing on proposed Local Law No. 2 of 2016 – a local law amending Chapter 15, Ethics, Code of, of the Code of the City of Oswego.
The public hearing will take place at 7:10 p.m. on March 28 in the council chambers.
Mayor William Barlow pointed out that, in the past, some of the public felt city government had “backroom deals and shady discussions” and “it wasn’t the most transparent government.”
That is why he has recommended creation of an ethics board.
The three-member board would be appointed by the mayor; that would be concurrent with the mayor’s term. So, from administration to administration, there could be fresh members on the board, according to according to Kevin Caraccioli, city attorney.
However, not all councilors felt comfortable with having the mayor appoint the members.
Second Ward Councilor Pat McLaughlin said he’d like to see the council have more input on who’s named to the board.
Barlow replied that he thinks it’s appropriate for the mayor to select the committee, as it is stated in the charter.
“There wouldn’t be any of this discussion if I didn’t bring it up. So, obviously, I’m not afraid to be looked at,” the mayor said. “I’ve nothing to hide.”
It’s nothing personal, the councilor said.
“I just question whether a board appointed by one person can not be beholden to the person that appointed them,” he explained.
“My job is to allow the board to do its job,” Barlow said. “I’m not going to stand in their way. If I wanted to stand in their way, I wouldn’t have brought this to the council.”
The mayor pointed out that in previous years, it seemed like the council was always going into executive session for one reason or another.
“Here we are, three months into the year now and we have yet to call or move to an executive session,” he said. “That shows how serious we are about transparency.”
“If something looks shady, something sounds fuzzy,” the public will now have recourse, the mayor pointed out.
If anyone has a concern, they will be able to pick up a form at the City Clerk’s Office. The completed form would then be presented to the ethics board for its review.
The board is designed to interpret the questions that come up – from people within the government and outside the government Caraccioli said.
The board would render advisory opinions.
It ultimately reports to the council.
“I feel this is a huge step in the right direction,” Mayor Barlow said.
The resolution passed 6-0-1 with Sixth Ward Councilor Eric VanBuren being excused.
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The only question I have about the so called Ethics Board is HOW MUCH ARE THEY GOING TO GET PAID?
I think the councilors should appoint all 3 board members. That would be the right thing to do. They could pick people from the city and see who might want to sit on this board to make sure the people are covered.
This would be a volunteer board with no compensation.