Board of Ethics

The Board of Ethics of the City of Mount Vernon Minutes of the meeting of March 2, 2023 The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. at a room at City Hall, and the following members were in attendance in person: Curtis Brewington, Chair; Ed Byrnes, Secretary; John McGlynn, Vice-Chair; and Khendra David. With at least four members in physical attendance, a quorum was achieved. Having received the approval of the Chair, based on extraordinary circumstances, Board member Blair Hoplight joined the meeting remotely via Zoom and was able to fully participate as a member. The following persons were also physically present at the meeting: City Clerk Tanesia Walters; and Corporation Counsel Brian Johnson; they absented themselves later during the part of the meeting where the Board wanted to discuss matters that were con dential and meant only for Board members. Ms. Walters and Mr. Johnson returned at the very end of the Board meeting. A motion was made and seconded to approve the proposed minutes for 11/7/22. Approved 5-0. Ed reported that of that group of persons who were required to le Financial Disclosure Statements (FDSs) for calendar year 2021 there remains only one person who has still not led any FDS. In addition, a Notice of Delinquency had been issued by the Board in late December, 2022. Brian Johnson stated if the matter was referred to his o ce then other options might be available in order to get compliance from this person. Curtis brought a motion that was seconded and then approved by all members that the Board request the o ce of the Corporation Counsel to examine such options in order to get compliance from this non- ler. John reported on the ethics workshop that John Mancini gave on February 24 to more than 50 employees of Mount Vernon and other municipalities at the Doles Center, and that it was informative and appreciated by the attendees. Brian Johnson and Tanesia Walters, who were also present at the workshop, complimented the Mancini presentation. Curtis brought up the question of what was being done to get additional members to be appointed to the Board of Ethics. Ms. Walters noted that e orts were being made with the media and the city’s website to try to get new members. A motion was made to go into a con dential session Since it was known that there were a few con dential matters that had to be discussed by the Board, a motion was made and seconded that the Board should go into a con dential session. A vote was taken, and it was unanimous that the Board would immediately go into such a con dential session. The Zoom recording stopped while the Board was in the con dential session. ff fi fi ffi fi fi fi fi ffi fi fi fi  Con dential session Topics including FDSs, Board meetings, minutes and rules, were discussed with the Corporation Counsel. [REDACTION ———- Investigation O] [REDACTION ———- Investigation P] At this point, Tanesia Walters and Brian Johnson returned to the room and immediately a motion was made and seconded that the Board go out of the con dential session and return to a public session. The motion was approved. Public session resumes . All members present at the meeting agreed to end the meeting around 8:45 p.m. Prepared by Ed Byrnes, Secretary fi fi