Community Corner

'No Probable Cause' Found in Ethics Complaints Against Barry, Palmieri

The Board of Ethics on Thursday has dismissed complaints against the two Southington Town Council members that had questioned their failure to disclose connections to the Board of Education before voting on a budget earlier this month.

There will be no public hearing and no disciplinary recommendations against Democratic Town Council members John Barry and Christopher Palmieri.

The Board of Ethics, in an executive session discussion on Thursday, found no probable cause to move forward with complaints filed by Art Cyr this month, multiple sources confirmed.

The two were named in separate complaints that called into question whether the two councilman had ignored the charter and acted unethically by failing to disclose their ties to education in Southington and voting for the Board of Education’s annual budget.

“I’m speechless that the Board of Ethics declined to proceed on any of the three points of either complaint,” Cyr said Thursday night. “I’m stunned by the decision, but not altogether surprised.”

Cyr initially filed the complaints on May 14 after Barry and Palmieri voted in favor of restoring $300,000 in funds to the Board of Education at the council meeting the previous day. The two, who have both supported and opposed restoration of funds in the past, had met with Sciota and received a legal ruling that there was no conflict.

Barry questioned the motives following the filing of a complaint after comments were made publicly by Cyr at the meeting and again on Thursday said he believes the effort was politically motivated.

“Art Cyr is consumed by the negative bickering and small-minded politics that don’t solve problems,” Barry said Thursday. “Cyr’s deliberate attempt to smear my volunteer service and use my family for his political attack shows lack of character. The over the top rhetoric, where Cyr purposely lied about me and my family is inexcusable.”

Cyr has maintained, however, that the efforts were in regard to the need for local politicians to disclose their connections to items they are voting on was the only motivation and said he’s disappointed in the decision.

“The obligation to disclose should have been absolute and why it is not in this town befuddles me,” Cyr said. “The ethics code says you have an obligation to disclose. I’m stunned.”

Members of the Board of Ethics and Southington Town Attorney Mark Sciota were unable to comment due to procedures for ethics complaints as detailed in the town charter.

Did the board make the right decision in dismissing the complaint? Should they have moved forward? Let us know in the comments section below.

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