Ethics? What Ethics? – Clarkstown

Star of the show: Deputy Town Attorney Mr. Jeffrey Millman. He is advisor to the Board of Ethics in the Town of Clarkstown. Now understand that the Code of Ethics for the Town makes very careful provision that the members of the Board of Ethics not be employed or associated with any political party in an official capacity. Yet it is quite curious that Mr. Millman, in his role as advisor to the Board of Ethics, feels that there is no problem with his representing, in his private practice, a political person challenging ballot petitions for the position of Town Supervisor – the elected official to whom he reports. When asked about this action, which occurred on September 3 and 4 of 2013, Mr. Millman said that he saw no problem with it. Why a full-time deputy town attorney at the same time has a private practice and is indeed a partner in a law firm is a valid question as well. His representation through his private practice is a conflict with his charge to work “solely in the public interest” [Code of Ethics of the Town of Clarkstown].

Now Mr. Millman has stepped into another major role on the Board of Ethics. The Town Board voted unanimously to call for an investigation by the Board of Ethics of Mr. Sparaco, Mr. Borelli, Mr. Malone, and Mr. Ballard. They also voted to require Mr. Sparaco, a Town employee, to hand over the full recordings on which he based allegations of ethical misconduct. In line with the resolution, on September 17, 2013 the Board of Ethics informed Mr. Sparaco that he was to submit unedited copies of the tapes in question. Then on September 18, 2013 the Board of Ethics withdrew the requirement that he submit the tapes. The reason given was Mr. Jeffrey Millman’s advice. Mr. Millman apparently decided that he has authority to set aside a decision by the Town Board.

On December 19 Mr. Millman made a report to the Town Board concerning the investigation by the Board of Ethics. In that report he failed to mention his action to overrule the Town Board. Mr. Millman makes light of the authority of the Town Board under which he serves and sees no obligation to report to its members.

I think that it is time for the Town Board to remove Mr. Millman from his responsibilities as advisor to the Board of Ethics. He has demonstrated that he is ethically unqualified for the job.