Shelby urged to not allow GOP committee members to be elected officials

Town Board considers ethics policy for officials, employees

SHELBY – The Town Board is being encouraged to insert a clause in a code of ethics policy that would forbid members of the local Republican Committee from also serving on the Town Board or other elected positions in the town.

Jim Heminway spoke during a Tuesday public hearing at the Town Hall and said the local GOP committee has a lot of influence in the town government. If there is a vacancy on the board, the committee makes a recommendation to fill the spot that is typically followed by the Republican-dominated board, Heminway said.

The positions, when up for election, are often without opposition.

“In Shelby if you get an appointment you’ll win an election because there is so little competition,” he said during the hearing about the proposed code of ethics.

The committee also yields power when it doesn’t endorse someone, or withholds an endorsement of an incumbent, Heminway said.

Charlene Pratt, whose husband John is on the Town Board and sister Darlene Rich is the town clerk, said she favors no political committee activity for sitting elected officials.

“If you’re on one you shouldn’t be on the other,” Pratt said.

Joe Root spoke during the hearing and said it difficult to find residents willing to serve in the town government, as well as filling the spots on a political committee.

He urged the board not to ban political involvement for people in elected positions or as appointed town employees.

“There are not enough people to fill the positions now,” Root said at the hearing.

The current proposed code of ethics doesn’t include the stipulation that town employees and elected officials can’t serve on political committees.

Shelby has nearly 5,000 residents. Pratt said there are enough people in town to fill elected and appointed positions in the town government, and also have other people on political committees.

Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz said the Town Board will continue to consider the issue. The ethics policy could be voted on during a November Town Board meeting.

The town has an employee handbook that outlines ethical standards, and there is also a model code of ethics for municipalities to consider from the state comptroller’s office. That model policy (click here) doesn’t include a provision for employees or elected officials to not be on a political committee.

Shelby’s proposed policy includes provisions that people can’t use their position with the town for personal gain or to benefit their families or an organization they are affiliated with.

Municipal resources – money, vehicles, equipment, materials supplies and other property – must only be used for lawful municipal purposes and not for personal or private purposes.

There is also a nepotism provision where municipal officials and employees can not participate in any decision to appoint, hire, promote, discipline or discharge a relative for any position within the municipality, and no supervisor shall oversee a relative.

The policy also prohibits municipal officers or employees from seeking political contributions, whether gifts, money or service from a subordinate employee.

Town employees and elected officials also shall not disclose confidential information unless required by law or in the curse of exercising his or her official powers and duties.

The ethics code also prohibits town employees and officers from soliciting gifts. No gifts shall be accepted with a value exceeding $75 in one year, or if a gift is intended to influence an employee or elected official in exercising their duties.

A gift can include anything of value – money, a service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, or some other item or promise, according to the policy.