Council balks on creating Ethics Board (and the Ordinance that Wouldn't Leave)


It's pretty obvious why the Hoboken City Council majority balked on creating a Local Ethics Board.  If you were them, wouldn't you? 

The issue of creating a Hoboken Ethics Board was raised on June 6, 2018.  That is when the Hoboken Law Department told Ruben Ramos that his ordinance (up for First Reading) was "unenforceable" and "invalid."

Ramos' ordinance tried to add a provision to Chapter 51, "The Mayor's Office" addressing Mayor Bhalla's outside employment.  The Ramos provision mandated a series of reporting requirements to the City Clerk, regarding the mayor's clients and his compensation.   

In response to the garbage legislation, the  City of Hoboken Law Department drafted a 6-page memo (bottom of page).  The jist: the Council could not legislate ethics absent approval by a municipal ethics board.  Moreover, their ordinance would also be subject to approval by the Local Finance Board.  


What was hilarious was that on June 6th,   Ruben Ramos latched onto the idea of creating a Municipal Ethics Board!  Ramos asked Corporation Council Brian Aloia to "have something ready" for the next meeting, meanwhile... DeFusco got it.  His body language reminded me of the Lost in Space robot:



So...  Ramos' "unenforceable" and "invalid" Ordinance to legislate ethics wasn't withdrawn... it was put up for a vote and passed on First Reading.

Now, if that wasn't strange enough...

Ramos took his name off as "sponsor" of the ordinance, put on DeFusco's instead... and the ordinance has been put up for Second Reading (final approval) on every meeting Agenda since mid-June... and carried over. And over. And over. 


Meanwhile, Ramos has not moved to create a municipal ethics board. 

Why not? Are we going to throw his dead legislation a birthday party when it turns 1 year-old? 


This is embarrassing.  Maybe when the ordinance turns 13 we'll give it a Bar-Mitzvah? 

Just create the frigging Ethics Board already. Let our city's brand-new Ethics Board approve DeFusco's ordinance (and the Local Finance Board, too). 

But on the off-chance this Council majority is terrified of creating a Municipal Ethics Board (snicker), just withdraw the Ordinance, already-- unless we are going to celebrate the Holidays with it.    

But really. I'm rooting for a new Hoboken Ethics Board!  Ours will need to work 24-7.

JUNE 6, 2018 HOBOKEN LAW DEPARTMENT OPINION








Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 16, 2018 at 4:14 PM

    I nominate Gary Holtzman to be the first member of the local Ethics Board.

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  2. AnonymousOctober 16, 2018 at 5:35 PM

    Instead we should pass should pass a law requiring mandatory ethics training for all elected officials.

    It could cover the basics like is it ethical for a City Councilperson to illegally use a senior parking pass belonging to a neighbor who has moved out of town? Like is it ethical for a City Councilperson to live in an apartment provided as a "favor" by a local developer while her house is being worked on and then carry the developer's water on the council? Like is it ethical to change a law for the purpose of financially benefitting a campaign contributor? Like is it ethical to pay people to vote for you?

    And the list goes on and on. An entire curriculum could be drawn just from the known ethical lapses of this City Council.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 16, 2018 at 8:01 PM

      Let me guess.
      (1) Peter Cunningham
      (2) Jen Giattino
      (3) Mike Defusco
      (4) Ruben Ramos

      Delete
  3. ss1959October 17, 2018 at 12:01 PM

    I looked into this idea when Peter Camarrano was in office? The problem is that the Mayor controls the board nominations. I withdrew my request because even though I thought Dawn would be a great mayor, because you don't know who will follow. Can you imagine what would would have happened if Peter created the board?

    ReplyDelete
  4. numberscruncherOctober 17, 2018 at 12:55 PM

    Local ethics boards are invariably creatures of local politics since they are appointed by the very officials they are supposed to oversee. That's why handling local ethics issues at the State level through the local finance board makes alot more sense and is far less susceptible to mischief. The current system, while far from perfect, ain't broke at least when compared with the alternatives.








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