PEEKSKILL, N.Y. While the City of Peekskill has several committees and boards that have been operational for years, including the common council, planning commission and zoning board of appeals, the city's ethics board has only existed on paper.
But Peekskill officials are hoping to change that in the very near future. At a Peekskill Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, ethics board member Judith Ehren one of three current members on a board that needs five members to operate said she hoped to finally have a full board.
"It's never met as far as I know never," said Ehren, who is acting as the board's leader until a president can be elected. "We've been working on this for years and we're so close."
The board of ethics must consist of five members, none of whom can be members of other city boards, paid city officials or employees, according to city code.
Peekskill City Code mandates that board of ethics members must reside in the city and cannot hold an office in any political party. They are appointed by the common council and serve for a term of five years. Members cannot exceed two full terms and receive no salary or compensation for their services.
The board's main function is to make recommendations to the common council with respect to the drafting and adoption of amendments to the city's code of ethics.
The board also issues advisory opinions of other city boards and under state law is given the power of construing and interpreting Article 18 of New York State General Municipal Law, according to Corporation Counsel Bernis Nelson.
The biggest difficulty in putting the ethics board together is that it is required to have a particular political makeup, which Ehren described as "a majority minus one."
The board has three members who are registered Democrats, but city regulations require that it consist of two Democrats and three Republican, Conservative or Independence Party members since the common council is controlled by Democrats and has been since 2007.
Ehren said she is hoping to start holding meetings in the coming weeks and is calling on residents to volunteer.
"We're ready to move, we're ready to get to work," she said. "We just have to have the members."
City residents interested in serving on the board should contact City Clerk Pamela Beach at (914) 737-3400 or by email.
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