New Scotland Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, August 19, 2010
Ethics on hold in New Scotland
By Saranac Hale Spencer
NEW SCOTLAND — Aside from the establishment and authority of the ethics board, the ethics law that took effect this month might be withdrawn until Jan. 1.
The town board, which adopted the new ethics law in a unanimous vote in June, will hold a public hearing on Aug. 31 for a bill that would lift all provisions of the ethics law outside of those pertaining to the ethics board, which was named last week.
Members of the town’s planning board, which is subject to the new rules, had questions regarding the type of work they would be permitted to do within the town if they were to maintain their seats on that board. Robert Stapf, a surveyor who sits on the planning board, asked the town in July for an opinion detailing the effect that the ethics law would have on the ability of those with professional licenses to work in New Scotland.
According to the ethics law, the five-member ethics board is charged with rendering opinions of it. Since it was named just last week, it has not yet met.
The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at town hall.