Today’s Matt “Mad Max” Breslow article in the Norwalk Advocate presented the usual quotes of local politicians hoping to distract the wheels of government being held accountable for its actions.
In the past 15 years there has been only one ethics complaint filed. That was against Anne Carbone, the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals. It was filed by her former client and prompted an ethics investigation.
Other investigations were just routine ones to examine the problems arising out of conduct in various city departments. Apparently, some, would like to see such investigations stifled. Unless of course its about a city department that is doing something they don’t like, at which point (see Vets Park) all sorts of hearings and investigations are demanded.
This is of course the cruciable of politics, where programs and people clash usually over things unrelated to the issue at hand. Having a set of rules of conduct though mitigates the constant sparring at that is the what is needed in Norwalk.
When complaints arise, and they always will, there should be a common procedure for resolving that complaint. That procedure should be codified and understood by all participants. There are many procedures that are not codified in our government, chiefly two that spring to mind are the allegations of racism in the fire department, and the allegation of showing porn to a minor in a city jobs program. Both current department heads expressed great support for a central policy that could be referred to in dealing with such matters. The personnel director expressed support for such policy. To say now, after fact gathering hearings were held, that these investigations should not have been undertaken exposes the hypocrisy of claiming the mantle of transparent government while denouncing the the very act of transparency.
From the Adovcate:
Democratic council member Matthew Miklave said he’s leaning toward supporting the creation of an independent ethics commission after learning of three recent council investigations.
A council subcommittee’s investigation into allegations of racism at the fire department and a video recording of a fireman allegedly using two racial slurs in the workplace was improperly formed and once met in secret, in violation of the state Freedom of Information Act, Miklave said.
He said a tape containing racial slurs would be “horrible,” if it exists, but the investigating panel has been meeting for several months and found no evidence to support the allegations being probed.
The investigation caused unnecessary damage and became political when the focus turned from finding out what happened, and what the city could do about it, to seeking someone to blame and “hang out to dry,” Miklave said.
Reading the newspaper coverage of the hearings, and reading the minutes of the hearings exposes the real truth, that sunlight is really the best disinfectant of government.
source: The Norwalk Adovcate, Push for independence on city’s ethics issues, by Matt Breslow, May 22, 2007.
