Ethics Commission - Minutes - 04/01/2025

RECEIVED F
ETHICS COMMISSION OR RECORD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WATERFORD, CT
APRIL 1, 2025 05 APR 11 P [2: 29
Members Present: _ Betsy Ritter, Chairlady
Adam Stone
Christopher Nailon
Sara Gilman Mallari (alternate)
Cathy Patterson
Alan Messier
Paul Helvig (alternate)
Also Present: Marilyn Lusher
1. Call to Order. The April 1, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Ethics Commission was called to
order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairlady Ritter.
2. Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was observed.
3. Attendance. A quorum was established.
MOTION (1): Mr. Messier moved to seat Sara Mallari and Paul Helvig.
Seconded by Mr. Stone. Ms. Mallari and Mr. Helvig abstained
from voting. (5-0-2) Motion carried.
4. Public Comment. There was no public comment.
5. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of January 7, 2025.
MOTION (2): Mr. Messier moved to approve the January 7, 2025 Regular Meeting
Minutes, as presented. Seconded by Mr. Stone. Mr. Helvig abstained
from voting. (6-0-1) Motion withdrawn.
The following corrections were noted: In item 8: the last sentence to be revised as
follows: “Ms. Ritter will advise the Town Clerk this is not intended for public
distribution.” In item 10 the last sentence to be revised as follows: “Ms. Driscoll
indicated further changes might come from RTM consideration of the three
ordinance changes requested in the October 1, 2024 letter from the Commission to
the Moderator of the RTM.”
MOTION (3): Mr. Messier moved to approve the January 7, 2025 Regular Meeting
Minutes, as amended in items 8 and 10. Seconded by Mr. Stone. Mr.
Helvig abstained from voting. (6-0-1) Motion carried.

6. Correspondence Financial Reports were reviewed
7. Report from the Chair
a. Update of proposed budget request for Fiscal Year 2026. Ms. Ritter reported our
budget was approved by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance. It will go
before the RTM on May 7.
b. Process to access Ethics Commission files at the Waterford Police Department.
Ms. Ritter reported the files are in a small locked room off the Police Chief's
Conference Room inside the Police Department. Access to the conference room
and to the file room is controlled via the Shift Supervisor. The file room is
monitored via a 24/7 camera. The Shift Supervisor has the names of each
member of the Ethics Commission and can provide access as requested by the
Commission Chair. Discussion concerned the need to have two Commission
members access the files at a time and to request the Shift Supervisor to notify
the Commission each time the cabinet is accessed. Ms. Ritter agreed to write a
letter to the Police Chief with these requests.
c. Update on Request to the RTM for Ordinance Changes. Ms. Ritter and Mr. Stone
attended the February 16 meeting of the RTM’s Subcommittee on Legislation
and Administration to discuss the ordinance changes the Commission requested
on October 3, 2024. The Town Attorney was present. There was discussion on
the three changes and the subcommittee, after discussion with the Town
Attorney, decided there will be a future meeting to continue this discussion, No
date has been set.
d. RTM appointment of new terms for members: Adam Stone, Elizabeth Ritter and
Paul Helvig. Adam Stone and Elizabeth Ritter were reappointed as commission
members and Paul Helvig was reappointed as an alternate. There was discussion
on the need to appoint/reappoint the Commission Chair. Discussion indicated
there is no required calendar to do so and no desire to change the Chair.
8. Old Business. Adam Stone reported the most recent revision of the Complaint of
Violation of Code of Ethics form was not available on the website; rather, the previous
edition was still shown. Ms. Ritter will bring this matter to the attention of the Town
Clerk.
9. New Business. There was no discussion of new business.
10. ADJOURNMENT.

MOTION (4): Ms. Patterson moved to adjourn the April 1, 2025 Regular Meeting
at 7:35 p.m. Seconded by Mr. Nailon. (7-0) Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Frances Ghersi, Recording Secretary