Cicero — To the editor:
Recent news articles and letters to the editor, along with comments at Cicero Town Hall and in the community, indicate there is a good deal of misunderstanding regarding the decision by the Cicero Board of Ethics that found the former town supervisor guilty of a conflict of interest and subsequent litigation seeking her removal from office.
Following the release of an opinion by the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, some in the Cicero community believe that the former town supervisor was “exonerated” and/or “cleared” of conflict of interest as determined by the Cicero Board of Ethics.
That belief in incorrect.
The litigation in Supreme Court brought by a Cicero resident sought the former supervisor’s removal from office under the Public Officers Law, which allows removal by the court of a municipal for “any misconduct, maladministration, malfeasance or malversation in office.” The Cicero Board of Ethics had no part, directly or indirectly, in this lawsuit.
During the course of deliberations by the Cicero Board of Ethics over a number of months, it was determined by the Board of Ethics that the former town supervisor violated, in particular, Chapters 22-3 and 22-5 of the Cicero Ethics Code.
In fact, the former supervisor admitted in paper filed with the Supreme Court such violations.
The Cicero Board of Ethics is a bipartisan committee of Cicero residents appointed by the Cicero Town Board. The Board of Ethics consists of two Republicans, one Democrat, one Conservative and one person not enrolled in any political party.
It is important to note that the Board of Ethics’ decision to find the former supervisor in violation of the town’s Code of Ethics was unanimous, 5-0.
The Board of Ethics was charged by the Cicero Town Board to review a written ethics complaint filed by a Cicero resident with the town board and to render an advisory opinion regarding that complaint. The Board of Ethics diligently reviewed the complaint, came to a unanimous decision and reported to the Cicero Town Board.
It is our opinion, and that of our counsel, that the former town supervisor is and was guilty of a conflict of interest and that no judicial body has altered that decision.
William Bradley
Chairman
Kenn Peters
Member
Charles Abbey
Member
Bob Tomeny
Member
Cicero Board of Ethics
