2014-07-16 Board of Ethics Minutes

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testimony and I asked about presenting video evidence, and I also asked about the general Board of Ethics proceedings and protocol format. And the third question was well answered and I really didn’t get an answer on the video testimony and the duration of testimony, but so far I’ve been here 2 times now, a month ago and now, and I was told to take a few minutes and I understand because Monday the th 14 the PONC Commission, first I don’t, Communication 14-05 Resignation of the Vice Chair and you know I think you can all be proud that you had such a big part of exposing a $13 million fraudulent falsification of taxpayer money to be spent and that kind of number and I’m just going to formally ask you right now, st on record, I would like to present this Finance Committee of County Council 21 Session November 1, 2011 government document video. It shows Commission Hecht lobbying and, you know maybe before I leave you can answer the question, do I have to do the entire investigation because if you go to the County Clerk’s counter and say, you know, could you give me a research Debbie Hecht’s appearance before Council. And you’ll see time and time again, and again and again she’s over there basically giving the same speech promoting PONC, promoting, wanting, wanting the money for her and her friends and groups that she’s associated with. Here’s, from the last election, off her website printed out. This is a $20 to $35 item depending on where you get it. This is a $5 item I saw. Now sure you could print out on a 8 ½ by 11 piece of paper for probably 5 cents okay, but this is evidence that she has carried on throughout the whole existence of the Commission plus during her tenure on the Commission. She’s carried on a sustained, sophisticated, lobbying effort. And I just feel it’s not, it goes more than questionable. It’s not just like hanky-panky high jinks, and what’s the other thing, escapades or you know shenanigans, this is a $30 million program and $13 million has already been proven to be faked up. And I appreciate, I think I probably covered the three minutes and it’s up to you if you want to take a look at this stuff, this is a government document, unaltered in anyway, DVD-R, you can’t change that. So, do you want me to bring it here or take it over to the Lagoon Center or if you don’t want to take a look at it, I guess I can start all over again, you know. Thank you. Mr. Balsis: Thank you for your comments. I believe we’ve taken care of this at this time. Ms. Schoen: Yes Mr. Chair your next Petition would be 2013-10. e. Petition No. 2013-10: Review draft informal advisory opinion finding County employee Robert Northrop in violation of Section 2-83 of the Code of Ethics because he did not treat Petitioners Chris and Annette Pickens in a courteous, fair and impartial manner. Mr. Balsis: Yes, I understand you were unable to finalize the draft. Ms. Schoen: Yes Mr. Chair. I am asking the Board for additional time to complete the Informal Advisory Opinion it was a little bit more time consuming than I anticipated. 11