Congratulations to the New Britain City Council who passed a new city ordinance requiring the disclosure by city officials of real estate holdings and employer and business interests. This new ethics code, if signed by the Mayor, will provide the citizens of New Britain with financial information necessary to determine if a conflict of interest has arisen. The council should be commended for taking this step and for providing a reporting mechanism and penalty for lack of compliance.
Transparency shouldn’t be the goal in and of itself. That’s why it is so important to provide the types of exemptions that New Britain considered in its code. Primary residences are not reportable and only businesses that have paid them $10,000 or more must be disclosed. Spouses must also disclose their financial information.
These important provisions, along with their companion gift bans, are the keys to instilling confidence in our public officials. Short of a statewide municipal ethics code, each city and town should follow New Britain’s example.
