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Ethics board warns deputy appointment could create appearance of conflict
Summary
Ancram's ethics board found that appointing the supervisor's brother‑in‑law as deputy could be viewed as a conflict and recommended steps — including adding a fifth, unrelated board member and adopting disclosure or waiver procedures — to preserve public confidence.
Ancram's ethics board presented a unanimous written opinion to the town board on Jan. 15 that warned appointing the town supervisor's brother‑in‑law as deputy supervisor "could be seen" as a conflict under the town's ethics rules. Jack Lindsay, chair of the ethics board, told the board the request for the opinion was filed by Supervisor Colleen Lutz and that the panel met and reached consensus on Jan. 6 before circulating a draft to its members.
Lindsay read the board's findings and a set of recommendations aimed at preventing "the appearance of impropriety," including appointing the fifth town-board member from outside current familial ties, aligning the timing of appointing that member with any deputy appointment, and developing a formal waiver/disclosure process. "By the town supervisor appointing her brother‑in‑law as deputy supervisor, this appointment could be seen in conflict," Lindsay said, reading the ethics opinion. He also urged the board to adopt rules for handling matters tied to the volunteer fire company to avoid perceived conflicts when board members also serve the fire district.
The ethics board emphasized the opinion was procedural and not an allegation of wrongdoing. Supervisor Colleen Lutz said the board's work was intended to strengthen transparency. "I thank the ethics board for thoroughly looking at this," she said. The board did not adopt immediate restraints on appointments but the ethics report set out steps the town could take to reassure constituents and reduce the risk of future complaints.
