WATERVILLE — The City Council plans to consider taking a final vote Tuesday to approve an ethics ordinance, passage of which requires a two-thirds majority of the seven-member panel.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the council chamber on the third floor of The Center at 93 Main St. It will be preceded by an executive session at 6:45 p.m. to consider a tax abatement request.

The council on Jan. 16 took a first vote to approve an ethics ordinance, which declares that the city’s operation requires proper conduct of city officials to promote public confidence. The ordinance also seeks to ensure that the integrity of government is maintained, that public office is not used for personal or financial gain or advantage, and that the government structure is used properly in making decisions and developing policies.

The city’s ethics committee was established through a voter-approved charter amendment that became effective on July 1, 2015. The panel was directed to develop an ordinance draft to present to the council.

Peter Lyford headed the committee, which worked to prepare the draft. Members looked at other municipalities’ ethics ordinances and put together a proposal for Waterville based on what is pertinent to the city.

On May 16 and Sept. 19, 2017, the council voted to postpone consideration of the ordinance.

In 2016, some residents complained that certain elected officials’ spouses were employed by the city, saying those officials should not vote on budgets pertaining to their spouses’ employment. A section about conflict of interest in the proposed ordinance says any city official or employee who thinks the official or a member of the person’s immediate family has a financial or special interest in an agenda item before the body, other than the interest held by the public generally, shall publicly disclose the nature and possible extent of such interest, and the body will determine if there is an interest.

Councilors now are asked routinely at the beginning of council meetings if they have any conflict of interest to report on any agenda items. Those who report a conflict typically say they will not vote on a particular item.

In other matters Tuesday, the council will consider taking a second, final vote to authorize City Manager Michael Roy and the city’s finance director, Heather Rowden, to accept donations for the riverwalk project.

Councilors will consider taking a final vote on whether to amend an ordinance dealing with licenses and permits for mobile or temporary food vendors. They also will consider voting to refer to the Planning Board for public hearing and recommendation a request to amend the zoning map on part of Silver Street, as New Dimensions Federal Credit Union wants to build a branch there and add 19, 21 and 23 Summer St. to the newly adopted contract zone there.

The council will consider appointing Todd Martin to the ethics committee and Tammy Gould to the Waterville Public Library board of trustees.

Councilors also will be asked to vote to close Common Street from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday this year from April 26 through Nov. 15 for the farmers market.

James Dinkle, executive director of FirstPark, is scheduled to make a presentation on the park at the end of Tuesday’s meeting.

 

Copy the Story Link