Liberty CDC donates new set of US Armed Forces flags

The Liberty CDC presented a new set of US Armed Forces flags to the American Legion Post #109 to replace the ones flying at the “Welcome to Liberty” sign at the traffic circle at the Rt. 52/55 intersection.

Alan Goodman, the CDC’s Board President says: “There are many good ways to honor the men and women who serve our country in the Armed Forces – we are happy to support the work of the American Legion with our donation”. The donated set contains flags for the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force as well as a new POW/MIA flag.

Photo: CDC Board President Alan Goodman and Public Spaces Committee Member Jodi Goodman present Dan Ratner, Past Commander Liberty American Legion Post #109 with the set of flags at the ‘Welcome’ sign in Liberty

(Release provided by the Liberty CDC)

Legislator Goodman Looks to Change Legislative Rules

Last month Sullivan County Legislators Jodi Goodman and Leni Binder were calling for a rule change do to accusations that they improperly received tickets for Bethel Woods shows. The two legislators received tickets in the past for a box owned by orchid dealer Stuart Salinger. Goodman, whose district covers a good portion of Liberty voted twice in favor of admitting parcels owned by Salenger into the county’s Agricultural District Number Four.

The ethics code for county legislators is separate from the legislative rules. But the ethics document does state that “under any circumstances in which it could be reasonably inferred that the gift was intended to influence him or her or could reasonably be expected to influence him or her in the performance of his or her official duties or was intended as an award for any official action on his or her part” and a legislator cannot accept a gift of more than $75.

Goodman and Binder previously sat in a box seat owned by Salinger, box seats at Bethel Woods start at $5,500.

There was a press release issued by the county on this matter on June 27th:

Sullivan County Legislators Leni C. Binder (R-7) and Jodi I. Goodman (R-6) have requested that Legislature Chairman Jonathan F. Rouis create a commission to review the draft ethics law that has been developed by the current ethics committee and submitted to the Law Department. That draft ethics law was largely based upon the ethics codes of other counties and municipalities, but before the recent ethics reforms that were initiated by Governor Cuomo earlier this month.

“We have requested that the current draft ethics law, along with the recent reforms initiated by Governor Cuomo, be forwarded to a review group that would be comprised of citizens with some background in ethics and above reproach. This review should build upon what has been included in the draft ethics law, and create a clear and understandable policy that works in practice and theory,” said Binder and Goodman.

“I would be happy to heed their request and appoint such a commission in the name of good open accountable government,” said Rouis. “I will act upon Legislator Binder’s and Legislator Goodman’s request prior to the scheduled meetings that are scheduled for July,” added Rouis.

“There must be a clear and understandable policy that will protect the public trust, while at the same time providing reasonable guidelines relating to when an interest is involved, and more clearly defining gifts, and the prohibition of gifts only from those individuals, firms, or organizations that have a stated value, and that have a contract with Sullivan County or have an interest in Legislation before the County. There must not be any misconstruing that a County officer or employee should not be prohibited from providing or receiving hospitality from individuals, forms, or organizations that have NO CONTRACTS with Sullivan County, nor any interest in matters where the officer or employee would have any jurisdiction,” added Rouis.

Goodman told the River Reporter that “We believe it would be preferable to amend the rules of the legislature to permit a legislator to abstain under circumstances where a legislator has a close relationship with, or has been the beneficiary of hospitality from, a person or firm who has an interest in a matter pending before the legislature.”.

Leni Binder stated in a press release from the county managers office that “rules of the legislature do not allow lawmakers to abstain to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, but only to avoid an actual conflict of interest”.

We’ll have more on this story as it becomes available.

Sources: The River Reporter, Sullivan County Website