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Charter commission recommends adding ethics language to Chapter 10; attorney to advise on removals and legal sections
Summary
Commissioners agreed to expand Charter language on conflicts of interest and ethics under Section 10-3 rather than establish a charter-required Board of Ethics; they asked the Town Attorney to review Sections 10-2 and 10-4(b) and to advise on effective-date language for amendments.
The Town of Coventry Charter Revision Commission on March 25 shifted toward embedding conflict-of-interest and ethics language in Chapter 10 of the Charter rather than creating a new, standalone Board of Ethics. Commissioners said an expanded ethics provision within Section 10-3 would better fit expected needs while avoiding the overhead of a permanent board.
Commissioner Cheryl Resha and others recalled a member of the public who had urged a Board of Ethics during a prior audience of citizens, but the group worried a permanent board could be unnecessary given expected low complaint volume and the difficulty of staffing. Town Manager James Drumm explained the current process: ethics complaints are initially assessed by the Town Manager for possible resolution; matters that require public hearing are brought to the Town Council, which functions as the hearing body in those circumstances.
The commission asked staff to draft a replacement title and expanded text — Taylor proposed "Section 10-3. Financial Interests Prohibited, Ethics" — and to check whether Section 10-4(b) (removals) contains obsolete language now superseded by union contracts or state statute. Commissioner John Elsesser suggested clarifying that Town Council has no authority over Board of Education employees where state law limits that power.
Why it matters: Embedding ethics language in the Charter defines local standards for conflicts of interest and the complaint process; it also clarifies which bodies handle investigations and possible censure or removal where permitted by statute.
Next steps: The Commission directed Alex Taylor to consult the Town Attorney about: (1) whether Section 10-2 needs updating; (2) whether removal language in Section 10-4(b) should be removed or revised to reflect union contracts and statutory limits; and (3) whether the historical Charter date in Section 10-3 should be updated. Commissioners will revisit Chapter 10 at the next meeting and prepare proposed text for attorney review.
Provenance: Chapter 10 items discussed in SEG 006–SEG 008; ethics and removal procedures referenced in SEG 007.
Ending: The Commission continued Chapter 10 review to the next meeting and asked staff to bring attorney guidance and draft replacement language before the April 8, 2026 submission deadline to the Town Council.
