I am writing in response to Wendy Dunham’s argument, published in last week’s Westside News, for transferring Brockport ethics cases to the Monroe County Board of Ethics.
There is no proof that ethics concerns would be held to a higher standard by utilizing the Monroe County Board of Ethics instead of the local board, or that the county board would be more efficient than the local board. If anything, adjudication of ethics issues would be prolonged by removing ethics from local control. As noted in public comment at the most recent Village Board meeting (and on the Monroe County Board of Ethics website), the last time the county board of ethics met was October of 2025.
Our local ethics board meets the unique needs of Brockport residents and can more quickly disperse advice and responses than a county board of ethics. It has a better understanding of context and local conflicts of interest.
In the last two years, Brockport has used the Ethics Board on two occasions, one at the request of a village employee and the most recent based on complaints by citizens and former village employees. That they have met weekly since January to resolve the latest matter speaks to their dedication and professionalism. The local board has expertise in ethics through years of experience handling local ethical issues. In addition, one board member has postgraduate training in ethics and teaches a university course on business ethics.
As for taxes, Brockport taxpayers pay town and county taxes that fund the Monroe County Board of Ethics. The $3,500 of village funds for legal counsel—if needed—seems a small price to pay to resolve a complicated ethics case that hangs over village government, from which the village attorney has recused himself. As this new Village Board finds its footing (following the resignation of two trustees), I believe its sudden plan to eliminate the Ethics Board from village government is totally unwarranted. This is, in the end, a case of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
By the way, for ethical reasons, the Mayor does not appoint members to the ethics board; they are appointed by the Board of Trustees.
Margay Blackman
Brockport
