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Ad hoc committee recommends council approve three nominees to Danbury City Board of Ethics
Summary
The ad hoc committee recommended City Council approval of three mayoral nominees to the Board of Ethics, approved a motion adjusting the nominees'term expirations to May 1, 2028, and clarified board composition and complaint procedures.
Frank Salvatore, chair of the ad hoc committee, said the panel unanimously moved to recommend that the Danbury City Council approve three mayoral nominees to the Board of Ethics and that the committee adjust the nominees'term expirations to May 1, 2028.
The nominees named by the mayor'Abraham Kale, Pedro Maderos and Michael Valanati'were reviewed during the April 27 meeting. Salvatore said the mayor's office and corporation counsel were present for the discussion. The committee also confirmed that Catherine (Kathy) Gleason is currently an active board member, based on council records previously submitted to the committee.
Why it matters: The Board of Ethics has five seats, must include at least one Connecticut-licensed attorney and may not include city officeholders or employees, the committee said. Those requirements shape which nominees qualify and when they can serve. Committee members raised a timing issue: the mayor's communication listed term expirations starting April 1, 2028, which would have effectively shortened appointees'service if the council did not act until May. To avoid reducing the nominees'time on the board, the committee voted to recommend the council adopt May 1, 2028, as the expiration date for the new terms.
Committee members asked for a legal confirmation before finalizing changes to official start or end dates. The committee also discussed the board's procedures: any Danbury resident or city employee may file an ethics complaint, and the board typically convenes to consider matters only when a complaint is filed; the panel noted an annual organizational meeting should occur to elect a chair and handle routine matters.
A committee member moved that the ad hoc recommend the City Council approve the three mayoral appointments to the Board of Ethics with terms expiring May 1, 2028. The motion was seconded by Salvatore. The committee recorded two votes in favor and one abstention; the recommendation passed. The committee then adjourned.
What's next: The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for formal confirmation; the committee asked staff to verify the exact sworn-in dates and the council minutes that show prior approvals so the council packet reflects accurate start dates.
