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Council reads ethics-board finding and moves to executive session on related matters
Summary
Mayor McKenzie read an ethics-board letter concluding the board lacked jurisdiction over an August 2024 complaint against Councilman Fernandez because the alleged events occurred more than six years earlier; the council voted to discuss next steps in executive session and to consider real-estate matters as well.
Mayor McKenzie read a prepared statement summarizing an ethics complaint that alleged Councilman Fernandez had used his position to seek dismissal of tickets for a family friend; the Ethics Board concluded that because the alleged conduct occurred in 2018, it lacked jurisdiction over the complaint referred in September 2024.
"The authority of the Ethics Board to investigate alleged violations of the City Of Peekskill code of ethics is limited to those alleged to have occurred within 6 years," Mayor McKenzie read. "The pertinent facts alleged in the amended formal written complaint occurred in June and July 2018, more than 6 years prior to the 09/25/2024 referral of this matter to the ethics board. Thus, the ethics board is without the authority to conduct an investigation into the alleged violation. Accordingly, the matter is dismissed."
After reading the statement the mayor moved the council into executive session to discuss personnel, potential discipline and real-estate matters and the motion carried. The council said it will discuss next steps in committee of the whole or executive session with special counsel.
