Ethics Law to be Discussed

On Sunday, December 2, Radio Free Kingston will feature a discussion of
Ulster County's new Ethics Law. The in studio guests will be the two
citizen members of the Ulster County Board of Ethics, Lorraine Rosenberg
and Lanny Walter. The show will be hosted by Art Richter and Billiam
van Roestenberg. Radio Free Kingston airs every Sunday from 12:30 to
1:30 p.m. on WKNY, 1490 AM. Listeners can call the show at 331-1490.

Background Information
The vitality and stability of any government depend upon the public's
confidence in the integrity of elected and appointed officials.
Whenever the public perceives a conflict between private
interests and public duties of any government officer or employee, that
confidence is imperiled. Governments have the duty both to provide
their citizens with standards by which they determine whether public
duties are being faithfully performed, and to apprise their officers and
employees of the behavior which is expected of them while conducting
their public duties. The purpose of any ethics law is to provide a way
of assuring that standards of ethical conduct and financial disclosure
requirements for government officers and employees are clear,
consistent, uniform in their application, and enforceable, as well as to
provide county officers and employees with advice and information
concerning possible conflicts of interest which might arise in the
conduct of their public duties.

The old Ulster County Ethics Law was completely rewritten over the last
two years by the five member Board of Ethics with considerable input
from Lorraine Rosenberg and Lanny Walter. The new version has been
reviewed and revised by the Ulster County Attorney and is presently
being evaluated by the Efficiency, Reform and Governmental Affairs
Committee.