Council Appointment Cleared By Ethics Board

By Steve Bigham

Newtown’s Board of Ethics ruled January 6 that there was no appearance of a conflict of interest or impropriety when Legislative Council member Brian White was appointed to the finance subcommittee.

The request was initiated November 22 by council member William Rodgers, who felt Mr White’s appointment to the committee may be perceived by the public as an “appearance of impropriety.” Mr White joined Donald Studley on the committee. The two men are partners in the Danbury accounting firm of Studley, White & Associates PC.

In making its ruling, the ethics board said Legislative Council committees only make recommendations. The full council makes all final votes. Also, it said, only two members of the finance committee are partners, and their accounting firm does not provide services to municipalities.

The ethics board’s judgement went on to state that there are many instances where employees or officials are in a position where there could be a conflict of interest. “We must rely on the integrity of the employees and officials to behave properly.”

Mr Rodgers said all along that he did not believe there was a conflict of interest. It was the appearance of impropriety that concerned him. He simply wanted the ethics board to check it out, saying it was the prudent thing to do.

David Nanavaty serves as ethics board chairman.