WATERVILLE — The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to consider taking the first of two votes needed to approve an ethics ordinance, though City Manager Michael Roy thinks councilors will postpone voting on the plan to have more time to review it.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the council chamber at The Center at 93 Main St. downtown and will be preceded by a 6:30 p.m. public hearing and workshop on the proposed ordinance.

Roy said Friday that the city charter contains a section on ethics that is in effect until a separate ordinance in enacted.

A committee has been working on preparing an ethics ordinance, which requires two votes by the council to be approved. The council may take only one vote on an ordinance at any particular meeting and then must take a second, final vote at another meeting.

“I think they will wait to take a vote,” Roy said.

Roy said the committee, headed by Peter Lyford, looked at other municipalities’ ethics ordinances and put together a proposed ordinance for Waterville based on what is pertinent to the city.

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The proposed ordinance, or municipal code of ethics, declares that the operation of the city requires proper conduct of city officials to promote public confidence that the integrity of government is maintained, that public office not be used for personal or financial gain or advantage and that the government structure be used properly in making decisions and developing policies.

Last year, some residents complained that certain elected officials had spouses who were employed by the city and therefore should not vote on budgets pertaining to their spouses’ employment. A section about conflict of interest in the proposed ordinance says any city official or employee who believes the official or employee or a member of the person’s immediate family has a financial or special interest in an agenda item before the body, other than the interest held by the public generally, shall publicly disclose the nature and possible extent of such interest, and the body will determine if there is an interest.

In other matters Tuesday, the council plans to consider selling 32 Winter St. to Christopher Huck for $20,000. The city foreclosed on the single-family home in March. Roy said there is extensive damage on the inside of the house.

Councilors also will consider taking a second, final vote to rezone 299 Main St. and 70 Oak St. so that KV Federal Credit Union can build a branch there and move from its Quarry Road location. The credit union wants to buy the properties and demolish a four-unit apartment house and a duplex there. The Planning Board recommends the zone change.

The council is scheduled to go into executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss labor negotiations involving the city’s public works employees and office workers.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17

 


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