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| NEWS > 30 November 2006 |
Other related articles:
Hells Angels to hit police wit
THE long running turf war between the Hells Angels and New York Police Department (NYPD) is set to escalate over the next two weeks as the outlaw motorcycle club seek to take its legal victories over the city's finest past the million dollar mark.
The latest move in an increasingly acrimonious dispute that has already seen the bikers win court settlements against the police worth $800,000, follows the biggest police operation Manhattan has seen since the aftermath of the World Trade Center atrocities. Lawyers for the Angels are preparing to sue the city after an investigation into a... Read more
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New Brunswick Home News Tribun
30 November 2006
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Dual positions will end
EDISON — While state lawmakers toy with the idea of putting an end to dual-office holding, township officials yesterday announced plans to enact a law banning municipal employees from moonlighting and holding multiple positions.
Mayor Jun H. Choi said he would adopt the law and other ethics standards through executive order in the near future, joining Woodbridge as the only municipality in the county to forbid employees from taking jobs that would pose a conflict of interest.
"This is innovative stuff," Choi said. "You don't have that many models around."
Choi said the law, which would not pertain to off-duty police officers who choose to work part time, would also prohibit a municipal employee from taking a private job with a contractor working for the municipality.
The new standards would include a code of ethics that will apply to every full-time municipal employee in the executive and judiciary branches of township government. The measure would limit multiple-position holding and moonlighting, require employees to disclose outside employment and business interests, restrict conflicts of interest, establish post-employment restrictions and designate an Ethics Liaison Officer for the township. That officer, said Choi, will be named shortly.
"What it regulates is transparency," Choi said. "We're reviewing the details, but it is aimed at minimizing conflicts of interest and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. We'll develop a review process to make sure it's a fair standard."
Employees will be subject to mandatory ethics training, the mayor said.
A seven-point executive order signed in September by then-interim Mayor of Woodbridge Joseph Vitale bans municipal employees from engaging in conflicts of interest; using their jobs to provide special benefits to themselves, family members and friends; and accepting money for their jobs aside from their paychecks.
In neighboring Highland Park, Borough Council officials are considering becoming the first municipality in the state to ban dual-office holding for elected positions.
That ordinance, introduced last month, would prohibit Highland Park elected officials from holding another elected office, whether at the county, state or federal level.
New Jersey has more state legislators holding two offices than any other state in the country, according to the Center for Public Integrity. The most common second office is at the municipal level.
Choi also signed a bill yesterday that encourages citizens to get involved in town government. Joined by members of Citizens' Campaign, which he called "advocates of open, honest and clean government," Choi signed the Open Appointments Ordinance, a law unanimously approved by the Township Council in October.
The law was recommended to the council by a Citizens' Campaign graduate intern and Edison resident, Ashley Burke.
Sponsored by Councilman Peter Barnes III and Councilman Tony Massaro, the ordinance will create a public directory of all nonsalary, appointed positions and establish an open application process for citizens seeking such positions. The directory and other information will be kept in the township clerk's office.
"This ordinance promotes openness in government and provides every citizen an opportunity to play a part in shaping public policy in Edison," said Burke, 23.
The Metuchen-based organization's founder, Harry Pozycki, said the directory will hold information about positions available on about 25 boards and commissions.
"Many residents think of government as having to run for mayor or the council. They don't realize there are hundreds of positions in the town they can hold, only needing to devote an hour or two per week," Pozycki said. "This is a way for the township to tap into one of its best resources — educated citizens."
Councilwoman Joan Kapitan, who attended the press conference along with Councilman Charles Tomaro, said the township, and its residents, had much to be proud of in adopting the ethics reforms.
"Congratulations to us," Kapitan said.
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