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Middletown Leads
What is Middletown Leads?
Middletown Leads
is a weekly newsletter intended to connect the Middletown community by
providing information about civic undertakings by the Town.
NO MORATORIUM
The Middletown Town Council rejected the proposal to place a 6-month emergency
moratorium on new proposals for development in the Atlantic Beach District.
The proposed moratorium was generally aimed at preventing an expansion
of hotels in the area. It would not have halted the proposals for two hotels
that are already being considered by the Planning and/or Zoning Boards, which
are for relatively small establishments on Wave Ave. and Aquidneck Ave.
The specific reason for the rejection of the moratorium was that it was
categorized as an “emergency” measure; it did not meet the criteria for an
“emergency.”
On the other hand, the Town Council responded to resident concerns by
referring the issue to the Planning and Zoning Boards which were directed to
develop recommendations for changes in the zoning that would limit the size and
height of new development in order to preserve the character of the district.
ETHICS PRESENTATION
The Educational Coordinator from the Rhode Island State Ethics
Commission made a presentation to the Town Council and members from the various
Town boards and commissions related to the rules intended to ensure ethical
conduct, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and not use their position for
private gain or advantage.
It is interesting that the reason the Ethics Commission
exists is that “The years preceding the 1986 constitutional
convention were marked by scandal and corruption at all levels of
government. Indeed, widespread breaches
of trust, cronyism, impropriety, and other violations of ethics standards
decimated the public’s trust in government.”
A
person subject to the Code of Ethics . . .
may not
participate in any matter in which he or she has an interest, financial or
otherwise, which is in substantial
conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the
public interest.
A substantial conflict of interest occurs
if it is reasonably foreseeable that he or she or any family
member
or business associate, or any business by which he or she is employed or
represents, will derive a direct monetary gain or suffer a direct monetary loss
by reason of his or her official activity.
In
such circumstances, the public official must recuse. Recusal refers to a
public official or employee declining to participate in a matter because of a
potential conflict of interest under the Code of Ethics.
It means that the
person is not participating in deliberations or debates, making recommendations,
giving advice, considering findings, or in any other way assuming
responsibility for or participating in any aspect of the work or
decision-making relating to the matter where there are potential conflicts of
interest.
No person
subject to the Code of Ethics may enter into any contract with a state or
municipal agency unless the contract has been awarded through an
open and public process, including prior public notice and subsequent public
disclosure of all proposals considered and contracts awarded.
The appearance of impropriety is a phrase
referring to a situation which to a layperson without knowledge of the specific
circumstances might seem to raise ethics questions.
No person subject to the Code of Ethics may accept
anything of value based on the understanding that the gift will influence that
person’s judgment or official action. This prohibition includes anything of
value given to that person’s family or business associates.
Other provisions are related to the following: honoraria, political contributions, the
revolving door, and financial disclosure.
A person subject to the Code of Ethics may request
an advisory opinion about a particular provision of the Code which may affect
him or her. Persons subject to the Code
are: 1) state and municipal elected officials; 2) state and municipal appointed
officials; and 3) employees of state and local government, board, commissions,
and agencies.
COUNCIL LIAISONS - CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS
Town Councilors serve as liaisons to the various volunteer boards
and committees. Councilors were appointed at the Dec. 17 Town Council
meeting. Discussion led to disbanding
the existing Town Council sub-committees and bringing the current status
forward to be discussed by the entire council for more public transparency.
The current board and committee application process ended on
Tuesday, Dec. 18. There was discussion related to ensuring fairness in the
interview process required for the Planning and Zoning Boards by requiring
responses to the interview questions in writing prior to the public interviews.
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