Ethics board compromise sought

Ulster County lawmakers could once again take up a measure to change the way members are appointed to the Board of Ethics.

The new effort, spearheaded by county Legislature Chairman Ken Ronk, comes after lawmakers failed to override an executive veto of a measure that would have stripped the county executive of the sole authority to recommend appointees for the board.

The Legislature voted 17-5 in August to change the county charter to give the Legislature control over three of those appointments. Under the county charter, adopted in 2006, the executive nominates individuals for all five seats on the board, and the Legislature confirms those appointments.

The amended measure also would have allowed the Legislature to remove any member of the Board of Ethics by a simple-majority vote.

County Executive Michael Hein vetoed the initial effort, calling it “politically motivated” and technically flawed, and saying it violated the tenets of good government and could lead to corruption.

In September, supporters of the change were able to muster only four of the 15 votes needed to override the veto, and the measure died.

Ronk, R-Wallkill, said his new proposal would increase the number of Ethics Board members to seven, with three members appointed by the county executive, three members recommended by legislative leaders and appointed by the executive, and the final member nominated by the other six and appointed by the executive.

“This way, it is consistent with state general municipal law [which requires all appointments to the board be made by the executive], and neither side has a majority,” Ronk said. “It gives the balance everyone was looking for, and it’s hopefully going to allay the concerns of the county executive.

“It’s the best of both worlds, I believe,” Ronk said.

The proposal still must go through legislative committees and be subject to a public hearing before going to the full Legislature for a vote.