After some anonymous posters on this blog questioned whether it was ethical for Mayor Art Ward to have the American Legion pay for his trip to Indianapolis to make a pitch for the 2010 American Legion World Series, the mayor asked about the issue.
Ward said today that he asked the city attorney for an opinion. He said that Ed Krawiecki, the city attorney, told him that all of Bristol's lawyers agreed it would be best if the city paid for the travel by the mayor and Park Director Ed Swicklas.
Ward said that he had thought it made more sense for the Legion to pick up the tab, since it was the applicant, but that if taxpayers have to shell out the money, it remains well worth it.
Ward said both he and Swicklas are still planning to go to Indiana in early May and do exactly what they would have done. But their travel costs will be paid by the city, the mayor said.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
30 comments:
I'm sure someone will call me an idiot for asking this, but why is it unethical for the American Legion to pay for the trip?
It's nice that the Mayor wants to bring in the legion baseball but I have to say that I wish he would spend this kind of time and effort trying to get the businesses in town to stick around and new businesses to come into town.
On top of all the others that have left or closed, Marshalls is leaving and going to Plainville. Did the City even try to get them to stay?
YOU MUST BE KIDDING!
Why are we, the taxpayers paying for Ward to have a Vacation!!
Have a good time Mayor Ward. You deserve it.
ward and the rest of the contingent are flying out on a Saturday afternoon in order to meet with the state contingent and go through the presentation, make the presentation on Sunday noon and fly back on Sunday - doesn't seem like much of a vacation.
I've been to Indianapolis. It's no vacation, believe me.
ask corporation counsel why it is unethical for the Legion to pay for the trip, ward did what he was supposed to do and asked for clarification of the issue. looks pretty much as though you would be busting ward's butt regardless of the decision so probably doesn't matter anyway.
Its pretty funny that anonymous bloggers have to be the watchdogs when apparently the mayor's right hand man, Mr. Krawiecki, didn't catch it. Maybe it was the ethics piece that caught him up - with his own personal history it probably didn't occur to him that this is a conflict. Maybe this is why he and the mayor get along so well.
..."It's nice that the Mayor wants to bring in the legion baseball but I have to say that I wish he would spend this kind of time and effort trying to get the businesses in town to stick around and new businesses to come to town."
That is exactly what the Mayor is doing. If he is successful in his bid to bring the world series to Bristol, approximately 10,000 fans will be lodging, eating, shopping and spending...all very good for Bristol business. At the same time, we get to showcase our town to some people who never would have had a reason to visit Bristol, and who might be willing to bring their business here...it's a win-win.
I wish the Mayor and the other gentleman the best of luck in Indianapolis!
7:41am:
I was asking a legitimate question. I don't understand why it's unethical for a private agency that is the applicant to pay for the trip. I'm just looking for an answer to something I don't understand - not looking to bash the Mayor.
Ward only asked for clarification because he knew if he didn't Cockayne would! Keep them honest Cockayne! THEY ARE ALL ON WARNING!
Why did Ward even conider acepting the "free ride"?
After 14 years, he should know better.
But then, maybe he doesn't.
Or doesn't care.
Ward only asked for "clarification" after people took issue with the ethics of this situation, Ward did not do this on his own. If he really cared he would of asked for clarification immediately before announcing his travel plans.
Nice try, Ward apologist.
...instead of giving credit to the mayor and his associates for attempting to bring this venue to Bristol, along with all of the good fortune it could bring for our city, the blog people choose to focus on the trivial matter of the ethics of who's paying for the trip?!!
Would it really kill you people to say thanks?
I guess I'm just as ignorant as the first poster. Why would it be unethical for the legion to pay for it?
12:41
This was in the works before Ward became Mayor.
Would Ward even have asked if his campaign hadn't been caught with some questionable practices?
The Ethics ordinance prohibits gifts of any kind - its kind of plain language.
Now we have to question whether Ward took other "gifts" that were not as visible.
Maybe all officials should be asked to pass a written test on their knowledge of teh laws.
...1:46 WHO CARES if it was in the works. Mr. Ward and his associates are the ones who are making the trip and hopefully bringing it to fruition...THANK YOU MAYOR WARD, MR. SWICKLAS, MR. MEISINGER, MR. MULLINS AND MR. LEFLEUR!
So, what are we talking here...
Flight, lodging and food for 2 people for three days. $2,500?
What budget does it come out of? Parks or Mayor's discretionary account?
Not bashing - It's worth the effort. Hope they come back with good news.
The mayor said the cost would be paid out of a $5,000 discretionary fund for the mayor's office, though I might be wrong about the dollar amount. I'll check on that sometime soon & see what else is paid for by that account.
Who is paying for the booz maybe thats considered food. What a joke.
he has that money that is part of the Team budget which is pretty funny since he is apparently considering taking the money away from the Team committee to save budget dollars but also because it was a certain councilwoman's idea and he wants it to go away. the arts and culture people in this town who are getting the grants from this committee are going to be plenty P.O.ed if that happens.
Art, ask for $4, 9999.00.
Jonathan did and got away with it.
If I remember, Jonathan got away with it more than once.
Seems like the city can find money when it wants to.
Should have requested money of the city WITHOUT it being brought up.
OOPS, I got caught, let me do it right.
Just where in the budget does the mayor have a discretionary account?
$5,000 in "Community Promotion".
Thanks Glen
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