Huntington to review and revise ethics code

Huntington officials say they are planning to revise the town's ethics code and seeking new counsel for the ethics board.

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone says he has tapped town board member Tracey Edwards to work with ethics board chairman Howard Glickstein to devise recommendations for strengthening the ethics code, which was last modified about 12 years ago.

"There are some sections in the code that need clarification," Petrone said. "If we're going to do some clarification, it behooves us to do a full review."

Ideas for improving the code will be announced early next year, before the ethics board yearly public meeting, which is usually held in March, Petrone said.

The town's ethics board was criticized recently after it issued a decision in October that there was no "technical ethical violation" in a controversial vote town board member Mark Cuthbertson made in favor of a zone change that allowed a condominium development proposed by Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius.

Cuthbertson had an undisclosed receivership relationship with Melius; but has said he had been advised in an informal opinion before the vote that his vote on the Melius deal conformed with the applicable ethics code.

Cuthbertson said he supports clarifying the ethics code.

"Last month, I wrote to the Ethics Board and requested that they draft legislation to provide greater clarity on disclosure requirements involving court appointments," he said Tuesday. "Hopefully, this will be one of the improvements put forward."

This month, the town board passed two resolutions, asking the New York State comptroller and the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York to examine the ethics code and offer suggestions on possible revisions.

Potential recommendations by either the state comptroller or U.S. attorney, if they have been offered, will be included in next year's announcement.

Petrone said a request for proposals for the position of ethics board attorney will be issued. Current counsel Jim Matthews was recently elected to the Suffolk County District Court.