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Stimulus Creates Boom In Cynicism, Opportunism -- Courant.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Readers Comment's on Alderman Sherwood's Ethics Statement That Should Be Public
Anonymous said...
.........Alderman Phil Sherwood said he was disappointed to hear about the resignation of a person he respected but felt the decision by the council to not accept the recommendation was correct.
“The Ethics Commission plays a very important role in the city, but it’s clear to me this process has been too political, and I hope we can now put this past us and get back to the important work of the taxpayers,” Sherwood said.
He hoped the city would consider revamping how the commission works. “The whole process has been a little too partisan,” he said, adding that by having the mayor appoint the commissioners, there was little chance of objectivity. “I think it’s ridiculous to have cities try to regulate their own ethics. This is something the state should be doing.”
Having local people appointed by local politicians leads to suspicion and mistrust, Sherwood said.
With no ethics violations under investigation, Stewart said he would not appoint a fifth member immediately, but would take time to find a proper candidate ...........
Is this not the most absurd statement yet from Sherriff Sherwood???
Alderman Sherwood of course local politicians and should be making local decisions. The ethics commission is set up per the city charter. You and your merry men had every opportunity to question the appointments made by Mayor Stewart.
Partisan politics is your game. Ned Lamont taught you well.
Please stop with the, I admire and I respect garbage.
It is clear that the democratic town committee has chosen a hostile approach to governing New Britain. You my friend are a political hack. You and your merry men have erected obstacles at every turn.
We should not be changing our charter and ordnances to suit the Democratic Party.
Your friend Alderman Catanzaro is in clear violation of the current ethics rules. He should be reprimanded or expelled.
Though you haven’t run afoul of the letter of the ethics rules in my book you are the most unethical person on the council.
What ever happened to Alderman Trueworthy? Why does he not address these issues? Why is he leaving it to a freshman Alderman to speak for the majority party?
If I were you Alderman Sherwood I would be concerned about the silence. History says that when one of the town committees attack dogs doesn't get result they usually don’t get support.
Wouldn’t that be ironic?
February 19, 2009 11:10 AM
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Ethics Commissioner Resigns!
Sadly to read that our former Mayor of New Britain, William McNamara, resigned from the city’s Ethics Board because the common Council rejected the Ethics Board findings against Aldermen Paul Catanzaro, a current employee of the Park and Recreation Department.
The democratic controlled Common Council refused to sanction their fellow member as recommended by the Ethics Board with a 13-2 vote.
The former mayor, who served six terms, concluded his remarks by saying the work serving this commission was a tedious waste of time. It also should be noted that Mr. McNamara is also a retired New Britain School Teacher and is currently teaching part time at CSSU.
The Ethics czar on the Council, Alderman Phil Sherwood, is trying to implement the city of Hartford’s ethics program for review by his New Britain council members.
With his own democratic council members voted along with him against complying with the existing codes.
Much is to be said about trusting this group of their recommendations for new ethics mandates.
Needless to say it will be hard to find someone with Bill's background to serve on the commission he is leaving.
Algonquin and other Indigenous people take stand against Obama
Ms. Judi McLeod of the Canada Free press Algonquin and other Indigenous people take stand against Obama
Alderman Catanzaro must be Expelled from City Council
At the Wednesday night council meeting, Alderman Paul Catanzaro spoke against, and then voted to reject a recent Ethics Commission ruling calling for Catanzaro to be reprimanded for personally voting on a previous issue that could have resulted in his receiving personal overtime for work that would have otherwise been given to a contractor.
By voting on his own personal reprimand Wednesday night, Catanzaro has again apparently violated section 4-7 of the city charter which states in part: “No member of the Common Council shall be heard to speak upon, nor shall be allowed to vote upon…any matter in which the member has a pecuniary interest.”
Catanzaro reportedly told reporters from both the New Britain Herald and the Hartford Courant that his reason for voting on the matter was because if he was to recues himself, then he wouldn’t be allowed to speak on the matter, but that is precisely what the city charter dictates; that he not be allowed to speak on his own matter of interest.
The punishment dictated by the same charter for violation of this section: “expulsion.”
As stated in the charter: “Any violation of this provision shall be grounds for expulsion of any member violating the same…”
This is the culmination of over 4 years of serious conflicts of interest that have been made public regarding this same alderman. He has ignored warnings from other Aldermen and even the Mayor when planning to vote on other past issues of personal interest. This time the law is crystal clear. It mandates that this member be expelled from the council.
This time, Catanzaro’s actions are similar to a judge hearing his own court case and then declaring himself “NOT GUILTY” at his own trial. This is shocking behavior for any elected official.
The only way to begin to restore public trust in the Common Council is to follow the law and expel this member for the violations he willingly committed. Mayor Stewart needs to act quickly in beginning the impeachment process for this serious violation.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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