In an effort to “increase transparency between the government and the residents of Yonkers“, City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy proposes legislation to make minutes from Board of Ethics meetings automatically public.
The Board
The Board of Ethics in the City of Yonkers serves a crucial role in maintaining ethical standards. As such, it investigates complaints, conducts hearings, recommends disciplinary actions, and provides advisory opinions. While similarly-powered to the Inspector General, it operates independently and has investigators of its own. The seven members serve a three-year term. Appointments are made by the Mayor, presiding Judge of City Court, and City Council President. The Law Department additionally serves in an advisory role.
Per the City Charter, the Board meets “no less than once every three (3) months and more often, as necessary.” While the minutes for these meetings are recorded by a stenographer, they are not immediately accessible. To obtain these documents, one must go through a formal Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. These requests are always fulfilled, but one must typically wait the customary 20 business days.
The legislation
In a simple local law, the City Council President advanced legislation promoting more immediate transparency for these meetings. So, instead of each interested party making a FOIL request, they become publicly accessible upon review by the Law Department. The full text of the proposed legislation is below.
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING SECTION C1A-25 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF YONKERS ENTITLED “ETHICS BOARD; MEETINGS AND VOTING” TO REQUIRE THE TAKING, MAINTENANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF MINUTES OF ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS.
BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council of the City of Yonkers, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section C1A-25 of the Charter of the City of Yonkers entitled “Ethics Board; Meetings and Voting” is hereby amended by adding a sentence at the end of subsection A. thereof to read as follows:
“Minutes, consisting of all motions, proposals, resolutions, advisory opinions, final actions and any other matter formally voted upon, and the vote thereon, shall be (i) taken at all open meetings of the Ethics Board (including at any executive session of any action that is taken by formal vote), (ii) maintained in indexed records for future reference, and (iii) posted and/or otherwise made available to the public in accordance with the provisions of Section 106 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that any such minutes may be subject to such redactions as permitted pursuant to Article 6 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York (the “Freedom of Information Law”), as in effect from time to time.”
SECTION 2. This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York.
The exact manner in which these minutes will be “posted and/or otherwise made available to the public” is not defined in the law. However, we expect them to be posted on the COY website similar to the Board of Contract and Supply agendas.
While this legislation is only in the Rules Committee presently, it is expected to advance to a full vote next week when it will likely pass. As such, the Council President hopes, “all council members will support this sound legislation to show our continued commitment to serving our constituents.”
So, with the impending adoption of this law, the City of Yonkers takes a step towards a more open and honest government.
