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Prospect ethics commission finds no conflict in mayor’s advisory request on legal retention
Summary
The Prospect Ethics Commission reviewed an advisory request from Mayor Doug Farnsley about retaining outside counsel for bond work and a second legal matter; the commission unanimously concluded there was no conflict of interest regarding the attorneys in question.
Prospect — The Prospect Ethics Commission reported to the City Council on Oct. 20 that it reviewed an advisory request from Mayor Doug Farnsley about retaining outside legal counsel on two matters and unanimously concluded there was no conflict of interest.
John Embry, who presented the commission’s report, summarized the two advisory inquiries and said both involved attorneys affiliated with Stites & Harbison (reported in the meeting as the firm associated with the attorneys). "The ethics commission agreed unanimously that there was no conflict of interest," Embry said.
Mayor Doug Farnsley had asked the commission for guidance before retaining outside counsel. Embry explained the commission treats advisory opinions differently from formal complaints: an advisory opinion responds to a named request and is not a formal complaint process.
Farnsley accepted the commission’s advice in the meeting and asked councilors to limit follow-up questions to general matters and to speak with him privately after the meeting for additional details. No formal complaint or disciplinary action was initiated by the commission at this time.
