Edelson: 'Ethics Commission Needs Vigilance From All Citizens'

Southbury First Selectman Ed Edelson issued a “First Selectman’s Message” highlighting some of the work the newly created Ethics Commission has performed over the past year and asking for vigilance from all Southbury residents.

The Board of Selectmen established the Ethics Commission in Nov. 2011 and the membership had their first meeting in Dec. 2011. The commission began dealing with several pending complaints and also started to develop proper procedures for handling complaints.

“They have handled all of this in a very professional and timely manner,” said Edelson in his Selectman’s message.

Below is a section of the “First Selectman’s Message”. To read the message in its entirety click here.

“That many of us have potential conflicts due to personal relationships is inevitable in a small town like Southbury. This requires all of us to be open about our personal and professional relationships and, when appropriate, to recues ourselves when a decision is to be made that might be seen as influenced by that relationship.

The Ethics Commission is clearly committed to make sure that all decisions that are made in Southbury are free of conflicts. This requires diligence on the part of all citizens."

Edelson added that the Ethics Commission has recently updated their web page to provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions like “How Do I File a Complaint?” and “Will My Complaint Be Made Public?”