Council Republicans add two members to Ethics Commission

TROY, N.Y. » Two more members have been added to the city’s Ethics Commission after the Republican City Council majority announced its choices Wednesday.

In an emailed news release, council President Carmella Mantello said the six GOP members agreed to name Karen Pelland and Carolyn Wilcox to the seven-member panel, which is tasked with investigating and ruling on any ethical questions surrounding city officials and employees.

Pelland and Wilcox join Daquetta Jones, Ryan Manley and Steve Muller, who were appointed earlier this month by Mayor Patrick Madden, and remaining members John Cubit and Harriet Warnock- Graham. Under the city charter, the mayor is entitled to three selections, while the council majority and minority each pick two members,

“A majority of the six member council majority chose these two distinguished and dedicated community members to the city’s Ethics Commission,” Mantello said in the release. “Ms. Pelland is a resident of Lansingburgh and Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Sycaway neighborhood, and each will bring a fresh perspective to this important oversight board.”

The Ethics Commission is an independent agency charged with promoting and enforcing city ethics and municipal law to jelp rebuild and retain public trust in government, but has not met since Madden took office. Several council members asked that the commission be reactivated in March, in the wake of allegations against Mantello that she was improperly providing information on upcoming legislation to former city manager Steven Dworsky, with Dworsky using the information to launch personal attacks on council members.