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Council Poised To Create Ethics Committee, But Not Before Debate
By Catherine Snipe
Although much debate has surrounded it, ultimately an ordinance creating an ethics information committee in Brick is closer to becoming law.
On Tuesday, the Brick Township Council introduced the ordinance, which would create a committee of residents and council members and designate a township ethics officer. The council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance at its next business meeting, two weeks away.
"It's another way we're trying to open up government and bring back integrity," said Councilman Anthony Matthews, who worked to create the ordinance.
The ethics committee idea, though discussed in previous years, now comes after an FBI probe into the township and the subsequent resignation and guilty plea for extortion by former Mayor Joseph Scarpelli.
"I think it's terrible to have to legislate good behavior," Council President Stephen Acropolis said. "You'll find 99.9 percent of officials are acting ethically, but unfortunately townships need committees such as this."
The ordinance would create a committee of three council members and three residents. The committee would meet quarterly.
It would review ethics complaints brought to the attention of the township ethics officer, Township Clerk Virginia Lampman. The committee could then direct the case to the ethics division of the local finance board.
"For new township employees, it would give them an idea of what's right and what's wrong," Matthews said.
The ordinance also states every township official and employee annually receive the Brick code of conduct and the state ethics law.
Councilwoman Kathy Russell said the ordinance should change from an information committee to an ethics board, which would give it some judicial powers. And, she said, the body should not have council members serving.
"We shouldn't be setting rules for ourselves. We should be having others set rules for us," Russell said. "The people who will serve on such a committee will bring forth ideas that are above us. We need to set standards above us."
Matthews disagreed, and said having council members there sends a different message.
"We need elected officials to lead by example, and show we are serious," he said. However, other council members and residents said the ordinance was a good first step.
"The issue at hand is that there's
nothing right now," Council Vice President Ruthanne Scaturro said. "Too much has passed. It needs to start now."
She said most corporate entities have a code of ethics and an ethics officer, and it's something Brick needs, too.
Scaturro also said the committee would have the outsider-resident input that Russell talked about, because three residents would sit on the committee.
The ordinance on first reading passed, and afterward in the public comment section of the meeting, residents voiced their concerns on the different viewpoints.
"Membership is a problem, and it is
a powerless board," Tony Lazroe said. "From the outside looking in, it looks
like more of the same."
He was concerned that whatever form an ethics body takes, when elected officials serve on it the issue becomes partisan.
"You are political by definition," he said. "And you can't escape it."
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