New Canaan Holds Code Of Ethics Public Hearing Next Week

NEW CANAAN, CT — The town's Board of Ethics will hold a public hearing on Oct. 18 to gather input on the updated New Canaan Code of Ethics, officials announced.

Created last year, the Board of Ethics was set up to help deal with alleged violations of the town's code of ethics, which was established in 1964. The board worked on the new code document, writing a new declaration:

“The proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that governmental decisions and policy be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that public office not be used for personal gain; and that the public has confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of these goals, there is hereby established in the Town of New Canaan a Code of Ethics setting forth standards of ethical conduct for all town officials, including all members of boards and commissions, whether such officials and members are elected or appointed, and all employees of the town and of the Board of Education, whether paid or unpaid, as prescribed by the Town Charter.”

“Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state and to carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state and municipality and thus to foster respect for all government. They are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the public interest must be their primary concern.”

The new Code of Ethics can be found here. The Oct. 18 public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the New Canaan Town Hall Meeting Room.

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