Proposed changes to Erie County's Code of Ethics were the topic of discussion by members of the Legislature's Government Affairs Committee, who had questions for the Acting District Attorney who is recommending them.
Michael Flaherty, who introduced his proposals on February 1, spent about 20 minutes with lawmakers, whose questions included whether ethics reform should be handled at the state level.
"I think this is an opportunity for the county to show leadership in the field of ethics," Flaherty said.
His proposals include updated language to define who qualifies as a "political party official," forbidding such officials and their family members from being appointed to county jobs, prohibiting side income with anyone who has a financial interest with Erie County, increasing penalties for violations of certain ethics laws and immediately terminating any elected or appointed official who is convicted of a crime.
Flaherty's pursuit of ethics reforms came following an Ethics Board charge against county comptroller Stefan Mychajliw in January over his attendance of a Harvard seminar that was funded by donations from local businessmen. However, the Ethics Board's probe found no evidence of any favors given in return for those dollars, which were reported by the comptroller in his financial disclosure.
The Legislature will have further discussion on the proposals at a later date.
