Suffield Ethics Commission dismisses anonymous complaint for lack of signature

The Suffield Ethics Commission met in a special session July 14, 2026, at the Upper-Level Conference Room in Town Hall to consider a complaint received by the commission on July 6. Chairman Jay Presser opened the meeting and said its purpose was to determine whether the complaint supplied sufficient evidence to warrant a formal inquiry.

After the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, members Scott Wheeler, George Dalrymple and Chairman Jay Presser were recorded as present; Susan Keane was absent. Brendan Malone, the alternate, was designated as a full voting member for the meeting. No members of the public attended.

Commissioners discussed the complaint in executive session. The record shows the commission returned to open session at 7:21 p.m., at which point Chairman Jay Presser called for a vote on whether the complaint met filing requirements necessary to proceed.

The commission unanimously voted to deny the complaint. The minutes state the complaint failed to comply with Section 40:11 sub para. B.(1) of the Town’s Code of Conduct because it lacked the required certification and signature. The Ethics Complaint Form, which implements that requirement, reads: "I/we hereby certify that the information included in this Complaint is true and correct to the best of my knowledge …" The form submitted in this case contained no signature on that line; instead the word "Anonymous" was printed there, and the sections for name, address and telephone number were left blank and crossed out.

Because the complaint did not contain the identifying information or the signature required by the town’s filing procedures, the commission determined there was insufficient compliance with the Code of Conduct to warrant a formal inquiry and dismissed the matter. The record notes a motion and a second preceded the vote, but the record does not specify which members moved or seconded it. The vote tally in the minutes is recorded as unanimous among the four appointed voting members at the meeting (Chairman Presser, Scott Wheeler, George Dalrymple and alternate Brendan Malone); Susan Keane was absent.

The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Presser at 7:24 p.m. The minutes were signed and respectfully submitted by Commission Secretary George Dalrymple.

Note on times: the meeting record includes both a 7:00 p.m. start time and a 7:02 p.m. call-to-order reference; the minutes indicate the meeting was called to order on July 14, 2026, and the return to open session and vote times are recorded at 7:21 p.m. and adjournment at 7:24 p.m.