TOWN OF MANSFIELD
Ethics Board
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Audrey Beck Municipal Building, Conference Room B
4:30pm
Minutes
Members Present: Mike Sikoski, David Ferrero, Nancy Cox, Lena Barry, Win Smith, Nora Stevens
Staff Present: Maria Capriola, Assistant to Town Manager; Mary Stanton, Town Clerk
Ms. Cox made a motion, seconded by Ms. Stevens, and approved by the Board as a whole to move the Discussion of Executive Sessions to item #1 on the agenda and approval of the minutes to item #3 on the agenda.
I. DISCUSSION ON EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Ms. Stanton provided an overview of topics permissible in executive session and documents subject to non-disclosure such as:
· Executive sessions can be added to regular meetings with a 2/3 vote of the Board;
· For special meetings, executive sessions need to be posted on the agenda;
· The executive session agenda item should have a description of what is to be discussed;
· It takes a 2/3 vote to enter into executive session;
· The minutes should reflect individuals invited and present at the executive session;
· No votes can be taken in executive session. The Board needs to reconvene in public session of they are to take action or take a vote on a matter.
· 1-82A of C.G.S. and non-noticed meetings.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT
Elizabeth Wassmundt, Turnpike Road, resident. Ms. Wassmundt spoke in regards to Section 20 of the “Model Code” and its relationship to Board member attendance.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM 2/26/09
A motion was made by Ms. Cox and seconded by Mr. Sikoski to adopt the minutes of February 26, 2009 as presented. Mr. Sikoski made a motion and proposed an amendment to strike everything under adjournment except for the adjournment time; there was no second to the motion. The minutes were approved (Cox, Barry, Ferrero in favor; Sikoski against; Smith, Stevens abstention) as presented.
IV. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
Mr. Sikoski reported on training he recently attended regarding FOIA. He also informed the Board of a CCM Ethics seminar in Darien on May 6th.
V. DISCUSSION ON ETHICS CODE
The Board reviewed and discussed Ms. Cox’s memorandum and suggestions regarding the Ethics Code.
The Board agreed to number the definitions in Section 25-3 for ease of reference (Stevens abstention).
Mr. Sikoski made a motion, seconded by Ms. Cox and approved by the Board to better define “conflict of interest” under the definitions Section (Section 25-3) (Cox, Sikoski, Smith in favor; Stevens, Ferrero abstention).
Ms. Cox agreed to revise, condense, and incorporate some of her suggestions into a document for the Board’s review at a future meeting.
VI. FUTURE AGENDAS AND MEETING SCHEDULE
The next meeting will be held April 30th at 4:30pm
VII.ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Maria E. Capriola,
Assistant to Town Manager