CB11 ethics committee finds merits in two complaints; committee to recommend consequences and schedules service day

The Community Board 11 Ethics and Disciplinary Committee reported that it found merits in two complaints and will meet to determine next steps, while the full board approved a committee proposal for a community service day.

What the committee decided

Naomi Pemberton, chair of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, said the committee anonymously voted in favor of the complainants on two cases: case 116 (complainant Bob Press) and case 117 (complainant Grace M). "The committee anonymously voted in favor of Bob Press complaint" and "the committee also anonymously voted in favor of Grace M," Pemberton said. The committee did not announce recommended sanctions at the meeting and said next steps will be discussed at a subsequent committee session.

Process concerns raised

Several board members raised concerns about notice and the opportunity to respond. A named board member said she did not receive the complaint documents in time and was ill for the committee meeting; another member said she had requested the complaint because she was named in the body of one complaint and said she had a right to respond. Committee members said they would furnish missing documents and reiterated that a follow-up committee meeting would address next steps rather than re-trying the merits at full board.

Service day approved

The Ethics Committee proposed and the board approved a community service day with Grassroots on March 29 at 9 a.m. at 1750 Gun Hill Road; the motion passed unanimously at the meeting.

Ending

The committee will reconvene to propose remedies or consequences for the committee findings and will notify affected members about the opportunity to participate in follow-up proceedings. Board staff said they will provide the complaint materials to named parties as appropriate and that the ethics committee will bring its recommendation back to the board if a full-board decision is required.