Planning Board Member Not Removed In Spite Of Ethics Violations

MAMARONECK, NY — A village planning board member in Mamaroneck will not be removed from the board even though the ethics panel concluded she had violated disclosure and recusal requirements. Mayor Thomas Murphy said he decided that removal was not warranted and would not be in the best interest of the village.

In a 12-page decision issued Friday, Murphy said planning board member Cynthia Greer Goldstein did not disclose a potential conflict of interest or recuse herself early enough in the matter of a sewer line application on Hommocks Road.

The proposed sewer line project would have had the potential to serve Goldstein's nearby home by reducing substantially the cost of hooking up the sewer to her residence.

Goldstein also participated in discussions about an application submitted by Hampshire Recreation LLC for a development that is next to her place of residence on Oak Lane without informing the board or recusing herself. She voted, along with the rest of the board, to deny the application.

Murphy said that in neither case would Goldstein's recusal have affected the outcomes of the votes.

"Finally, in issuing this decision I wish to make it clear that my determination not to remove Ms. Goldstein was not taken lightly, and should not be interpreted to condone violations of the disclosure and recusal provisions of the Code of Ethics," Murphy said. "Repeated violations of the Code of Ethics could indicate a 'pattern of misconduct' that may provide a basis for removal that is not present today."

Murphy's entire decision can be found at this link.

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