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Pembroke Park commission authorizes counsel for confidential ethics complaint
Summary
The commission authorized the town attorney to work with the town manager to engage outside counsel and to acknowledge reimbursement rights for a town staff member in relation to a confidential ethics complaint; the complaint and subject were described as confidential in the hearing.
The Town Commission of the Town of Pembroke Park voted Dec. 10 to authorize the town attorney to work with the town manager to engage outside counsel in connection with a confidential ethics complaint filed against a town staff member.
An attorney (unnamed in the transcript) told the commission an ethics complaint had been filed against a member of town staff and reviewed the town code's indemnification procedures. The attorney said the complaint and the subject are confidential under the ethics commission rules, and explained that under state law and the town code a respondent is entitled to attorney's fees if found not to have committed a violation; if a violation is found, payments made from public funds may need to be reimbursed to the town.
The town attorney asked for a motion to authorize engagement of counsel and for direction to work with the town manager. The transcript records a second and then a roll call vote in which the present commissioners voted to authorize the action; the chair announced the motion carried. The transcript does not clearly identify which commissioner formally moved the motion.
The attorney said he would proceed consistent with the town code and state law. The ethics complaint itself and the subject are confidential under the ethics commission rules, and the commission did not publicly identify the staff member or provide additional details about the allegations.
