CARMEL – The Putnam County Board of Ethics ensures that government actions and decisions adhere to proven ethical standards by protecting public trust, promoting integrity, and preventing misconduct.
The board’s membership has recently changed significantly after the death of former Appellate Court Justice John Sweeny and the resignations of Roderick Cassidy and Joseph DeMarzo for personal reasons, leaving only Barbara Scuccimarra and Paul Eldridge.
County Executive Kevin Byrne called it “critical that we continue the work of the Ethics Board and fill its vacancies to ensure ongoing effectiveness.”
Byrne nominated former Kent Supervisor Katherine Doherty, retired attorney John Molloy and counsel Kiersten Schramek to the board; however, the Putnam Legislature’s Rules, Enactments and Intergovernmental Relations Committee has failed to confirm the trio with a ‘no recommendation’ 2-1 vote.
Committee Chairwoman Amy Sayegh and Legislature Chairman Dan Birmingham cast the two votes, while Legislator Bill Gouldman, who also serves on the committee, voted to confirm.
Birmingham explained the votes were “not a reflection on the respective nominees – all three nominees are more than qualified and each would be a credit to the ethics board. However, due to the need to reform the nomination process, and the requirement that all nominees be acted upon within 60 days, combined with a reconstituted appointment process, some of us believed it would be unfair to appoint people for what might be a truncated term.”
During the hour-long discussion prior to the vote, lawmakers expressed their belief that the legislature should have the right to appoint members to the Ethics Board as well as the county executive.
Legislator Nancy Montgomery, the lone Democrat on the nine-member governing body, charged that each of Byrne’s nominees had Republican affiliations and “one party does not bode well.”
As tensions rose, Molloy asked to speak. “I was asked to attend tonight in case you had questions. Anyone who thinks I’m a member of a political party is mistaken—I resigned from the Carmel GOP Committee. I feel like I’m being caught in the middle and I don’t want to be drawn into a fight between the county legislature and the county executive. Thank you for your time, but please consider my application withdrawn.”
With that Molloy walked out of the meeting.
Gouldman was angry. “I know this man. He is a good person. We have turned him away because of the foolishness expressed here tonight.”
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