Following Obscene Gesture, Branford To Update Its Code of Ethics

Following an incident where an elected official gave the middle finger during a town meeting, and other questionable acts, the Town of Branford is looking to update its Code of Ethics.

Right now, the Code of Ethics only deals with bribes to town officials, according to the New Haven Register. The new push will be to pass a Code of Ethics that mandates elected officials act professionally and morally during meetings, according to the Register.

“We’ve had officials taking down political signs, tearing up citizens’ correspondence before reading them and we’ve had an official give the middle finger during a meeting,” Representative Town Meeting member Ray Ingraham told the New Haven Register, without naming names.

“This gives us a place to refer residents who have a complaint against someone in town," added fellow RTM member David Baker, according to the New Haven Register. "We’ve had some petitions that made allegations in the past, this would have helped those people."

The possible additions to the Code of Ethics would include, according to the New Haven Register:

• Officials and employees shall conduct themselves with propriety, discharge their duties impartially and fairly and make continuing efforts toward attaining and maintaining high standards of conduct.
• Officials and employees have an obligation to act morally and honestly in discharging their responsibilities.
• No official or employee shall, for any reason, use or attempt to use their position to improperly influence any other official or employee in the performance of their official duties.