Attorney: Ethics Board 'Made No Violations'

In an ironic turn of events, ’s aldermen may have approved an unethical Board of Ethics panel, according to the Board’s chairwoman and at least one city resident.

Yesterday, Patch published from Chris Panek about the situation, and now some residents are accusing Shelton’s politicians of playing, well, politics.

According to the City Charter, the Board of Ethics must consist of three members: a Republican, a Democrat and an Unaffiliated voter. Recently-inducted Board members are: Bronislaw Ben Winnick (R), Maria Davis (D) and Byron Peterson (U).

Seems pretty straightforward, so what’s raising eyebrows? For starters, the fact that Peterson was a registered Republican but switched to Unaffiliated in what some see as a move meant to manipulate the system.

Ramon Sous, the city’s attorney, said that the Charter was not legally violated. The issue of ethics, however, he declined to comment on.

“Anything dealing with people switching parties wasn’t really within the purview of what I thought I had to respond to,” Sous said. “The Charter calls for one member of each party and an Unaffiliated, so that’s how it should be. If there’s any question as to who is what, there should be a reappointment.”

According to minutes from a meeting held Dec. 19, 2011, Maria Davis said she is uncomfortable with discussing the city’s ethics ordinance until the Board members are in complete compliance with the Charter.

“We are the Ethics; we need to follow all the rules and regulations. We expect everybody else to; we should do the same,” Davis said.

Marty Coughlin, a Board consultant, said he believes Peterson’s party change is unfair: “What we have done in this case because Mr. Peterson has decided to switch from Republican to Unaffiliated does not really make him Unaffiliated. Technically he fulfills the law. He has changed. But in doing so, in my opinion, he has disenfranchised every Unaffiliated voter with in this city,” Coughlin said.

Shelton’s aldermen and mayor Mark A. Lauretti now need to re-nominate and reappoint Peterson if he is to officially serve on the Board. “This should clear up any issues of appointment,” Davis said.

Editor's notes: Calls to Mayor Mark A Lauretti and alderman John "Jack" Finn were not returned Wednesday night. Please stick with Patch, as we will provide updates on this issue as they come in.

Chris Panek is chairman of Shelton's Citizens United Party.