ORDINANCE
Motion/Request:
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MOTION to override the Mayor’s disapproval/veto dated October 16, 2025 regarding “An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics And Ethics Commission” as approved by the Town Council at their October 8, 2025 meeting.
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Background:
Town Council Meeting - October 8, 2025: Town Council approved Amendments to the proposed “An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission” dated September 10, 2025 as follows:
ü Section 4, paragraph 3b, remove the phrase “spouse or minor child” and replace it with “or immediate family of”.
ü Section 4, paragraph 8, Town Employee definition will be modified to add the phrase, “including outsourced administrative or executive professionals, including but not limited to consultants and the Town Attorney”
ü Section 5, paragraph 3, add the phrase, “unless the contract or purchase order is awarded through the traditional bid or quote process and conflict is disclosed.”
ü Section 5, paragraph 4, add the following sentence, “This provision does not apply to Town employees or Board of Education employees providing recreational services including but not limited to classes, coaching, camp counseling through Ledyard Parks and Recreation or Ledyard Board of Education”.
ü Section 7, paragraph 1b6, add the phrase “unless disclosed to the Ethics Commission.”
And adopted a proposed “An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission” dated October 8, 2025.
October 14, 2025: The adopted Ordinance was certified/signed and submitted to the Mayor.
Public Hearing- September 24, 2025
As a follow-up to September 24, 2025 Public Hearing, Chairman St. Vil requested from the Town Council the following deliverables.
1) Resident Questions & Responses
For the September 24, 2025 Public Hearing on the proposed “Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission” (draft attached), please submit:
• The question you wish to address (as stated at the hearing).
• Your written response (suitable for the official record).
• Deadline: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 (email to Town Council Office).
These Q&As will be included in the 9/24/2025 Public Hearing Minutes as “Post Meeting Notes.”
2) Proposed Amendments
A discussion on the proposed ordinance is planned for the October 8, 2025 Town Council meeting. To ensure a productive, collaborative session:
• Review the draft ordinance and the hearing video (Town Council - 2025-09-24 5:00 PM - Public Hearing).
• If there are issues preventing your support, propose solutions in full amendment text (additions/removals), ready for debate and a vote for inclusion on October 8.
• Deadline: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 (email amendment text to the Town Council to be included the meeting packet).
The Administration Committee began working to draft a Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission on June 12, 2024 under the Committee Chairmanship of Councilor Garcia-Irizarry.
March, 2025 changes were made Standing Committees with Councilor Buhle being assigned as Committee Chairman of the Administration Committee.
The Committee spent several months receiving residents comments and drafting a proposed “An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethics Commission”.
• June 23, 2025 the Administration Committee forwarded a draft Ordinance dated June 11, 2025 to Town Attorney Matt Ritter for his legal review and recommendations.
• June 25, 2025 Councilor Buhle and Attorney Ritter spoke by telephone about the proposed Ordinance.
• July 14, 2025 Attorney Ritter provided a Red Line document with his legal recommendations
• August 6, 2025 Administration Committee Meeting; Councilor Buhle asked the Administration Committee to review Attorney Ritters comments and recommendation for discussion at their September 01, 2025 meeting.
• September 8, 2025 Councilor Buhle provided a revised draft “An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethic Commission”.(dated July 8, 2025).
• September 10, 2025 Administration Committee Meeting the Committee reviewed the revised draft provided by Councilor Buhle and made a change to the Section 8 “Penalties for Violations of the Code of Ethics”(f) to strike the following langue “and/or removal from elected or appointed office” as noted below:
• Termination of employment and/or removal from elected or appointed office;
• And forwarded a proposed “An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethic Commission” presented in the draft dated September 10, 2025 to the Town Council for approval and also recommend setting a Public Hearing on September 24, 2025.
• September 10, 2025 Town Council Meeting - Set Public Hearing on September 24, 2025 to receive public comment on the An Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics and Ethic Commission” presented in the draft dated September 10, 2025.
• September 24, 2025 Public Hearing - 20 Residents/Town Staff provided comments regarding the proposed Ordinance.
June, 2024 At the request of Residents, Chairman Rodriguez referred the subject of an Ethics Commission to the Administration Committee.
Over the years previous Town Councils have discussed establishing an Ethics Commission.
Please find attached the following documentation:
• Draft Ordinance Establishing a Town of Ledyard Code of Ethics
• Acknowledgement Form
• Fraud Policy
• Town Charter- Investigation-Conflict of Interest
• Attorney Dietter email re: Review draft Ordinance
• ACC Municipal Ethics Minimum Provisions
• Former State Representative France email dated 3/4/2019
• CGS Chapter 10 Ethics Public Employees
• State Representative Reynolds memo dated July 9, 2008 re: House Bill 6502- Ethics Reform
Department Comment/Recommendation:
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Mayor Comment/Recommendation:
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