Letters

I was happy to see that Trustee Robin Brown was cleared of any wrongdoing related to her attendance at two events, one for a charity and the other in support of a friend [“Southampton Village Trustee Robin Brown Cleared in Ethics Case by Independent Expert,” 27east.com, June 4].

It is not all surprising that an outside expert reviewing the village code and facts found as much. A cursory look at the code reveals that there is no blanket rule on accepting gifts over $75, the alleged violation that formed the basis of the complaint.

The code contains a clear exemption when there is a friendship, and there must exist the “probable appearance” of trying to influence an official. “Special occasions” also are exempted. In other words, the village code is incredibly vague about what would rise to the level of an ethics violation in the first place.

If the ethics committee had done the requisite analysis, they would have been hard-pressed to meet the standard for finding a violation. Such a finding would have required a full hearing, with the subjective motivations of all of the parties probed and judged.

The code, by its own terms, is supposed to be reviewed and updated periodically, and posted for all to see, with training provided. This must happen to prevent future harm. In its current form, it does not put public officials on clear notice of prohibited activities. That’s not fair, especially where wrongful public shaming and damage to reputation and work can result.

As a public servant and as a human being, Robin Brown deserved better. As a community, we need to prevent such mortifying instances of a rush to judgment in the future.

Willa J. Bernstein

Southampton