Board of Ethics
Regular MeetingNorwalk, CT · July 24, 2025
Minutes
CITY OF NORWALK
BOARD OF ETHICS
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 24, 2025
VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM
ATTENDANCE: Patricia Agudow (chair), Michelle Sawyer, Kitty Sang, Pat Toni
STAFF: Brian Candela
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Ms. Agudow.
II. ROLL CALL
Ms. Agudow performed roll call. A quorum was established with four members present.
III. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
The board reviewed the minutes from the May 22, 2025, meeting.
** MS. SAWYER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN FROM THE
MAY 22, 2025, MEETING.
** MS. TONI SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
IV. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There was no one who wished to address the Board.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Discussion of the creation of a Board of Ethics education/training program for the
City, its officers, employees, and residents.
Mr. Candela introduced the topic by summarizing previous discussions and the intent to establish
a training program.
The program would introduce and explain the City’s Code of Ethics using seminar-style
presentations. Multiple sessions would be offered, including daytime and evening options, to
accommodate attendance. One session would be recorded and made accessible for asynchronous
viewing.
City of Norwalk
Board of Ethics
Regular Meeting
July 24, 2025
Participation would be required for all City employees, elected officials, officers, and directors
considered employees.
There should be a system to document employee attendance or acknowledgement to ensure
awareness of ethical obligations, similar to other mandatory trainings like cyber security and
harassment prevention.
The Board discussed the potential for new employees to be introduced to the Code of Ethics as
part of their orientation, with periodic refresher training every 2-3 years.
The importance of obtaining support and coordination from City Human Resources (HR) and the
Mayor’s office was emphasized to facilitate implementation and enforcement.
Creating hypothetical scenarios was suggested to aid in explaining key concepts in the Code of
Ethics during training sessions.
A consensus emerged that starting the program could be delayed until after the November
election to coordinate with new City leadership but that preparatory work should continue so the
program can launch early in the new year.
The Board briefly discussed holding smaller task force meetings to plan the training content. Mr.
Candela reminded members of FOIA requirements for notice if a quorum meets outside the
regular meeting schedule. Smaller groups of three or fewer members could meet informally
without public notice.
The Board agreed to distribute materials such as PowerPoint slides, the Code of Ethics
document, and the Citizen’s Guide for review and feedback. Ms. Sang, was encouraged to
familiarize herself with these materials prior to future discussions being a new member.
The group planned to coordinate via email in small groups respecting FOIA regulations to refine
key elements of the training and discuss necessary hypotheticals.
The next formal meeting was scheduled for August 28, 2025, with the possibility of a special
meeting if needed.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
No new business was presented.
VII. DISCUSSION
No additional items were discussed.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no need to hold an executive session.
City of Norwalk
Board of Ethics
Regular Meeting
July 24, 2025
IX. ADJOURNMENT
** MS. PATRICIA AGUDOW MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** PAT TONI SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Courtney Baldwin
City of Norwalk
Board of Ethics
Regular Meeting
July 24, 2025
Agenda
REGULAR MEETING – BOARD OF ETHICS
AGENDA
JULY 24, 2025, 7:00 PM
BY ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING
To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone and/or Zoom, or a recording in the City of
Norwalk YouTube channel. Specific instructions and links can be found at norwalkct.gov/meetings.
Members of the public may call in to participate. Callers will not be able to see the meeting
participants. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, dial *9 on the phone
and you will be called on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. All speakers
must state their name and address. Comments must be on a topic on the agenda, and are limited to
three minutes. Anyone disrupting the orderly conduct of the meeting, including by using threatening,
hateful, or sexually-explicit language, will be removed. Please find the information using the link
above.
Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" may also use the Zoom meeting platform.
All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand
indicator” and you will be called by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. All
speakers must state their name and address. Comments must be on a topic on the agenda, and are
limited to three minutes. Anyone disrupting the orderly conduct of the meeting, including by using
threatening, hateful, or sexually-explicit language, will be removed. Please find the information using
the link above.
Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email
in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be included into the record, they must be
submitted by 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Please email Brian Candela at
bcandela@norwalkct.gov with the subject line “Public Comment” to provide written public comment
prior to the meeting.
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A. May 22, 2025 – minutes from the regular meeting of the board of
ethics
IV. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Discuss the creation of a Board of Ethics’ education/training program
for the City, its Officers and Employees as well as Residents.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
VII. DISCUSSION
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. If any ethics complaints are received prior to the meeting, it is
anticipated that the Board of Ethics will enter into executive session to
consider same.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Packet
REGULAR MEETING – BOARD OF ETHICS
AGENDA
JULY 24, 2025, 7:00 PM
BY ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING
To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone and/or Zoom, or a recording in the City of
Norwalk YouTube channel. Specific instructions and links can be found at norwalkct.gov/meetings.
Members of the public may call in to participate. Callers will not be able to see the meeting
participants. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, dial *9 on the phone
and you will be called on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. All speakers
must state their name and address. Comments must be on a topic on the agenda, and are limited to
three minutes. Anyone disrupting the orderly conduct of the meeting, including by using threatening,
hateful, or sexually-explicit language, will be removed. Please find the information using the link
above.
Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" may also use the Zoom meeting platform.
All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand
indicator” and you will be called by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. All
speakers must state their name and address. Comments must be on a topic on the agenda, and are
limited to three minutes. Anyone disrupting the orderly conduct of the meeting, including by using
threatening, hateful, or sexually-explicit language, will be removed. Please find the information using
the link above.
Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email
in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be included into the record, they must be
submitted by 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Please email Brian Candela at
bcandela@norwalkct.gov with the subject line “Public Comment” to provide written public comment
prior to the meeting.
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A. May 22, 2025 – minutes from the regular meeting of the board of
ethics
IV. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Discuss the creation of a Board of Ethics’ education/training program
for the City, its Officers and Employees as well as Residents.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Page 1 of 5
VII. DISCUSSION
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. If any ethics complaints are received prior to the meeting, it is
anticipated that the Board of Ethics will enter into executive session to
consider same.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Page 2 of 5
CITY OF NORWALK
BOARD OF ETHICS
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 22, 2025
ATTENDANCE: Patricia Agudow, Chair; Amy Ayala; Kitty Sang; Michelle Sawyer;
Patricia Toni; Katherine Williams (Executive Session)
OTHER: James H; Atty. Brian Candela
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Agudow called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. There was a quorum present.
ROLL CALL
A Roll Call of those present was performed.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING: DATE
APPROVE MINUTES FROM APRIL 10, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD
OF ETHICS
** MS. SAWYER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 10, 2025 AS
SUBMITTED.
** MS. SANG SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There was no Public Participation at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no Old Business at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no New Business at this time.
DISCUSSION
City Of Norwalk
Board Of Ethics
Regular Meeting
May 22, 2025 Page 1 of 3
Page 3 of 5
There was no Discussion at this time.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. THE INVESTIGATING PANEL IS PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON ITS DECISION
TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS CONCERNING THE ETHICS COMPLAINT, DATED
MARCH 8, 2025.
B. THE INVESTIGATING PANEL IS PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON ITS DECISION
TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS CONCERNING THE ETHICS COMPLAINT, DATED
MARCH 19, 2025.
C. IF ANY ETHICS COMPLAINTS ARE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE MEETING, IT IS
ANTICIPATED THAT THE BOARD OF ETHICS WILL ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO CONSIDER SAME.
** MS. AYALA MOVED TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS
ITEMS A. THE INVESTIGATING PANEL IS PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON ITS
DECISION TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS CONCERNING THE ETHICS COMPLAINT,
DATED MARCH 8, 2025.; B. THE INVESTIGATING PANEL IS PROVIDING AN
UPDATE ON ITS DECISION TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS CONCERNING THE
ETHICS COMPLAINT, DATED MARCH 19, 2025. AND C. IF ANY ETHICS
COMPLAINTS ARE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE MEETING, IT IS ANTICIPATED
THAT THE BOARD OF ETHICS WILL ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO
CONSIDER SAME.
** MS. SAWYER SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting entered into Executive Session at 7:04 P.M.
Ms. Williams joined the meeting during the Executive Session.
The meeting returned to Public Session at 7:43 P.M.
No votes or actions were taken during the Executive Session.
ADJOURNMENT
** CHAIR AGUDOW MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** MS. WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
City Of Norwalk
Board Of Ethics
Regular Meeting
May 22, 2025 Page 2 of 3
Page 4 of 5
The meeting adjourned at 7:43 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted
Ian A. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services
City Of Norwalk
Board Of Ethics
Regular Meeting
May 22, 2025 Page 3 of 3
Page 5 of 5