Ethics Committee Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS OF THE CITY OF COHOES HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2023 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL Members Present: Charles Valenti, Chairperson Deborah Gilchrist, Member David Emanatian, Member Melody Nadeau, Alternate Member The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. Items Discussed: 1. Minutes of the October 18, 2023 meeting of the Board were approved by a unanimous vote. 2. Complaint No. 23-5. - The Board thoroughly reviewed the documentation submitted by the Complainant and considered the documentation and testimony submitted by the Subject of the Complaint. The Board also considered what they had seen and heard since they were witnesses to the alleged violation. The Board acknowledged that the objectionable behavior did occur but felt there were mitigating circumstances involved. They believed that the objectionable behavior by the Subject took place as a result of the fear of personal injury resulting from the irrational behavior of the Complainant which exacerbated a psychological would which the Subject has been dealing with because of domestic violence. The Board noted that the Subject has never acted in violation of Section 36-6 in the past during her tenure on the Board. The Board held that any violation of Section 36-6 must be the result of a deliberate action and that the action under consideration was not the case. . After a thorough review of the issues involved with Complaint No. 23-5, the Board  believed that the objectionable behavior did not rise to the level of a violation of Section 36-6 of the Code. All voted in favor of the motion to declare that Complain No. 23-5 t was unfounded, except Deborah Gilchrist who abstained. The date and time of the next meeting of the Board will be determined at a later date. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.