Board of Ethics

The Board of Ethics of the City of Mount Vernon Minutes of the meeting of July 13, 2023 The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 6:38 p.m. Five Board members were physically present in a room at City Hall. These members were Curtis Brewington, Chair; Ed Byrnes, Secretary; John McGlynn, Vice-Chair; Blair Hoplight, and Beresford Granston. Board member Leslie Alpert was not present for the meeting. Deputy City Clerk Donna Jackson was physically present throughout the meeting except for the period when the Board went into a con dential session. A motion was made and seconded to approve the proposed minutes for 6/15/23. Approved 5-0. Ed reported that the Board’s review of Financial Disclosure Statements (FDSs), which were recently led, would likely continue next week. Regarding the 6/21/23 email that we sent to all City Council members which recommended that all city government positions that are required to le FDSs be speci cally listed in the City Code §24-11, it was noted that we haven’t received any response thus far. Regarding City Council President Danielle Browne’s statement made at our Board meeting on 6/15/23 that she would send the Board a revised version of the proposed amendment to the City Code concerning special counsel appointments, it was noted that we haven’t seen that revision yet. Rev. F. Romall Smalls, a recently appointed member, joined the Board meeting at approximately 6:42 p.m.; this was his rst Board meeting. Revision to Board Rule, Article II §5 A motion was made and seconded that Board Rule, Article II §5, which states the powers and duties of the Vice-Chair, be revised by adding that the Vice- Chair shall have the power and duty to place Board documents and other records in the Board’s secure ling cabinet at City Hall, and to manage all documents and records in that cabinet. After a discussion, the motion was approved by a vote of 6-0. Discussion about the date for the Board’s next scheduled meeting fi fi fi fi fi fi  The Board concluded that it would have its next Board meeting on Thursday, August 10. Ms. Jackson stated that she would nd out what room was available on that date and the Board would be so advised. Election of Board O cers for the term beginning on August 1, 2023 Curtis was the only candidate for the o ce of Chair. He was elected by a vote of 6-0. Ed was the only candidate for the o ce of Vice-Chair. He was elected by a vote of 6-0. John was the only candidate for the o ce of Secretary. He was elected by a vote of 6-0. A motion was then made to go into a con dential session One of the members requested that the Board go into a con dential session, and a motion was made and seconded that the Board would do that. A vote was taken, and it was unanimous (6-0) 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, and Ms. Jackson left the meeting room. Con dential session All con dential matters have been redacted in order to allow this version of the minutes to be available to the public. ————————————————— The Board decided to end the con dential session, and Ms. Jackson returned to the room. 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 by a unanimous vote. Public session resumes All members agreed to end the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Prepared by Ed Byrnes, Secretary fi fi ffi fi ffi ffi fi ffi fi fi fi fi fi