Year of ethical dilemmas:

Commission had to deal with Derby trip controversy

The Kentucky Derby trip controversy helped keep the Norwich Ethics Commission busy in 2017.

Norwich — The Norwich Ethics Commission closed out its busiest year Monday, reviewing and ultimately dismissing three new complaints, and bringing the total number of cases — both complaints and requests for advisory opinions — to 17 for the year.

After an hour-long executive session, the commission voted unanimously to dismiss the three new complaints because they involved incidents that occurred beyond the 18-month time period allowed for complaints. The commission did not investigate whether the issues the complaints raised were valid.

The commission had a tumultuous 2017, with contentious hearings on complaints involving the controversial Kentucky Derby trips hosted by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative and attended by four Norwich Public Utilities officials and former Mayor Deberey Hinchey, and a second retreat to The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia attended by three NPU officials.

Five city officials were found in violation of the city ethics code over the 2016 Kentucky Derby trip, while the commission dismissed complaints about the Greenbrier trip, citing evidence that the trip did involve official CMEEC business.

Numerous other complaints were reviewed and dismissed without reaching the public hearing stage. Those complaints were never made public. The commission also handled three requests for advisory opinions from city officials.

As a result of the Kentucky Derby controversy, the commission recommended a series of changes to the city’s ethics ordinance to strengthen the commission’s authority, including its ability to levy fines and enforce its recommendations. The recommended changes were forwarded to the City Council for consideration. The commission also recommended staggered terms for members. Currently, all members’ terms expire on the same date.

The commission also faced internal issues throughout the year. Former member Greg Schlough resigned amid complaints that he had a conflict of interest in dealing with the Kentucky Derby complaints. Later in the year, recently appointed member Linda Bertelson also resigned.

Terms for all five members expired in October, and the four who sought renewal for two-year terms were reappointed by the City Council. Member Anthony Black did not seek reappointment. On Monday, the commission voted unanimously to reappoint Chairwoman Carol Menard and Vice Chairwoman Kathryn Lord to their positions.

But with only four sitting regular members and vacancies for the two alternate positions, the commission could not hold a hearing on a complaint, which requires five members present. The commission will send a letter to the council’s appointments/reappointments subcommittee expressing the commission’s urgent need for one new regular member and two alternates.

Commission members reflected on the busy year Monday, saying they’re hoping things return to a more normal pace in 2018. Menard said the workload amounted to “a parttime job” for some members. “We’re due for an easy year,” she said.

Commission member Chris Dixon said before he applied for a seat on the agency, he asked then-Chairman Joe Sastre about it.

“‘Aah, we never do anything,’” Dixon recalled Sastre saying.