Stamford Ethics Board Says Questions Unnecessary in Lease Contract

A city representative is questioning the language in Stamford’s contracts, specifically one involving renting office space to Congressman Jim Himes at less than fair market value, according to a report.

City Rep. J.R. McMullen had requested an opinion from the Stamford Board of Ethics about the office space lease that has Himes paying about $20 a square foot — a price McMullen says is at least 50 percent less than fair market value, according to The Advocate.

McMullen questioned a clause in the lease that reads that the congressman and the city entered into an agreement “at fair market value as the result of a bona fide, arms-length, marketplace transaction,” a federal requirement for congressional district offices, according to The Advocate.

The Board of Ethics ruled that it is only concerned with conflicts of interest and that there wasn’t an issue with the lease. So the Board Representatives approved the lease at its June 1 meeting.

The Advocate story can be found here.