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09/28/2021 01:49 PMMadison’s lack of an ethics commission, which has been in the works for some time, is now front and center as the Board of Selectmen (BOS) has finally drafted an ordinance and the commission is now on the fast track to be adopted this October.
Despite expressed support from all parties, little headway was made in recent years. Going all the way back to 2009 the town had drafted a proposal for an ethics commission, but it was never approved.
Then in 2019, according to town officials, questions about disclosure and conflicts of interest arose around a former town commission member. Though no evidence of wrongdoing or illegal activity was found, the BOS recognized the importance of an ethics commission and debated what type of entity would best suit the town’s needs.
First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons said that though the matter has been worked on for more than a decade, the commission is finally close to adoption.
“Before this it was really a policy and not an ordinance, and it really needed to be updated as it was 10-plus years old by that time,” said Lyons.
Lyons said the ordinance has actually been completed by the BOS and will be voted on for adoption at the next BOS meeting. However, there is still time for public input at a hearing scheduled for Monday, Oct. 25.
“The board has already approved this as a draft ordinance and then we had to make a few small modifications at our last meeting,” said Lyons. “We will have a public hearing on the ordinance on Oct. 25 and if there is no uproar against it, the board will likely adopt the ordinance.”
Selectman Bruce Wilson has also advocated for a commission, but stressed the integrity of the town’s officials.
“I am not aware of any concern of past or present unethical behavior by town employees or our citizen volunteers,” said Wilson. “But I think it would be good to have a process in place should we ever find ourselves in need and I support the thoughtful creation of an ethics commission. Better to have the process in place and never need it, then need it and not have a process.”
Lyons and Wilson are both seeking the first selectman seat in November.
Lyons said that previous stalling of the formation of the commission was remedied this summer when she and the board took the matter to new Town Counsel Kari Olsen, who is experienced with these types of legislation. According to Lyons, the process was jump started at that point and then gained momentum.
“It’s a complicated matter, to be honest. But when we got the town attorney involved, it moved in a different direction. The ordinance is much cleaner and more consistent now and it covers all of the potential areas of concern,” said Lyons.
For his part, Wilson said that as long as the public is allowed to weigh in, he is on-board with the adoption of the ordinance.
“It is always important to hear from residents. Especially whenever the BOS contemplate a change to town rules. I could not support moving this forward if we did not provide residents with the opportunity to review the proposed rule and to hear their input,” said Wilson.
A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 25. The public will have a chance to review the ordinance and to provide feedback. The BOS is scheduled to meet right after that hearing to vote on its adoption, according to Lyons.
“Immediately after the hearing the board will vote on it, unless there is strong opposition to the proposal,” said Lyons.
Visit the Madison website www.madisonct.org for information on how to join the virtual public hearing on Oct. 25 and for the BOS agendas, meeting minutes, and calendar.