A Call For Ethics Reform in Clarkstown

It is time to speak up for reform of the Code of Ethics in Clarkstown. It was designed to curb financial abuses but it has wholly failed to meet its stated goal, “that all individuals covered by that law must be seen to be acting solely in the public interest.” Ethical failures in 2013 circled around one central issue – the potential relationship between political support and public employment. This is the link that must be addressed with reform.

2014 marks an important 25th anniversary. In 1989 the Town Board considered a ban on employees of the town concurrently being officers of political parties. In those days the deliberations were open and you can read about them in the minutes of the Town Board. The issue was much debated, but ultimately was voted down. Based on our experiences in the past year, we know that was a mistake.

If the ban had been in place in 2013, there would have been no hiring of Mr. Joseph Savino (Republican) and the embarrassment of having to dismiss him when he was indicted. There would have been no hiring of Mr. Frank Sparaco (Republican and others) and the subsequent firestorm about his behavior as an employee of the Town. There would have been no “House of Horrors” meeting where members of the Town Board attended a meeting called by their employee Mr. Ed Lettre (Conservative). There would have been many fewer questions about the Office of Town Attorney, where many of the staff serve in local parties (Democrat, Republican).

So I offer the Town Board the text for such a ban and call for it to be added to the Code of Ethics:

No covered employee or Town employee shall concurrently be an officer or representative of a political party organized within the State of New York. Those employees who are in this status at the time this ordinance is enacted will comply with its requirements no later than six months from the date of its enactment.

This is a measure worth taking for the quality of our government. 2014 is the time for reform.