Supervisor's Report Sept 2007

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT
TOWN OF VARICK
September 4, 2007

It is time to revisit the Town’s Code of Ethics to see if there needs to be additions and realignment to best serve the people in this Community.

Local government officials are faced with issues that are just as difficult and time consuming as those faced by officials at any level of government. We must make significant decisions that affect directly the lives, property and livelihood of the people in Varick and Seneca County.

Local officials have business and personal relationships in the Town and County. We are faced with potential conflicts and ethics issues. Should a local official participate in a determination when faced with a conflict or abstain? What are the standards whereby elected officials can make these difficult decisions? Should we be sitting as elected officials on these local boards to serve our own agenda, family and friends?

The State law has provided standards in very few cases. There are many areas that are not regulated by State law such as the many applications residents make to our planning board, our zoning board of appeal, town board, and County Board of Supervisors.

There needs to be a balance to avoid conflicts of interests in our duty as public officials while we perform the responsibility of serving in our elected position. Public service is public trust. The question of conflicts of interests involves a balancing act.

Many local officials believe that they can isolate and block out personal interests or conflicts and make decisions only in the public interest. This is not the test. How can an official be sure that his or her decision is not influenced by personal interest? When an official acts in the face of an actual or apparent conflict of interests, that person cannot objectively defend him or herself against charges of improper conduct by the media or the public.

We need to provide a standard regarding nepotism. Allowing family members to work for the same municipality does not present problems. An abuse of office occurs, when a public official uses his or her authority to provide benefits to another family member.

This is the reason I am asking willing Varick Community members to work on a comprehensive code of ethics to provide guidance to elected Varick officials. The code of ethics will provide a prohibition on local officials to use his or her official position to take action which would result in personal financial benefit or other benefit for the official, his/her relatives, clients, an employer or campaign contributor. That official may not deliberate or vote on any matter when faced with conflicts of interest.

The Varick board by resolution will adopt the proposed 2007 code of ethics upon the Committees recommendations. This document will be given each year to all elected officials, appointments and employees of the Town. It will serve as a guide for all Varick officials to follow. The Town will have set in place standards of conduct reasonably expected from each of us to make the Town Varick in Seneca County a great example to follow.

Joan E. Teichner
Town of Varick Supervisor