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Get the Facts Straight

In the Feb. 6 article “Madison Moving Toward Forming an Ethics Commission,” Selectman Al Goldberg makes several assertions. Quoting from the article: “According to...Goldberg, who served one term as Madison’s first selectman between 2007 and 2009, the town approved the creation of an ethics commission during his administration, though it was never implemented.”

Incorrect! The concept of an ethics commission was included in the charter approved by voters on Nov. 7, 2006, a year before he was elected. From the current Town Charter Section 8.2 Possible New Commission: “In addition to the appointive commissions mentioned in Section 8.1, the Board of Selectmen may appoint an Ethics Commission consisting of no more than five members.”

From the article: “Goldberg said he was not certain exactly why or how the commission failed to be formed, if it was approved by the Board of Selectmen.” It was up to his administration to implement an Ethics Commission, if it wanted to. Apparently, it did not.

Quoting the article, “An ethics commission could also have advised when former first selectman Tom Banisch’s image was used by his former company while he was in office, Goldberg said, offering an objective ruling outside of partisan rancor.”

Shame on Goldberg for trying to slander me and my company and shame on The Source for not checking its facts. The company runs ads throughout the year depicting many of the real estate agents in the office for which each agent pays a portion to participate. There was no mention in the ad that I was first selectman. I maintained my license while I was in office and was in the ad for which I paid my share.

Al Goldberg and The Source should get their facts straight before they make misleading allegations.

Tom Banisch

Madison