Gaughan Pushes for New Ethics Code - Scranton Citizen %
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Gaughan Pushes for New Ethics Code

Councilman Bill Gaughan successfully introduced a motion at Monday’s City Council meeting instructing solicitor Amil Minora to draft a new ethics code for Scranton officials.  The move comes in response to the actions of Pat Hinton, the city’s licensing, inspection, and codes manager, who was awarded the lease of an unused Nay Aug Park restroom for use as a private gourmet coffee shop. Gaughan has argued, Minora has confirmed, and Hinton has disputed that the generous terms – – first two years free, $250 per year afterward – violates the city’s ethics code.  The code prohibits public employees from using public property for private gain.

In a statement last month, Gaughan said, ““It degrades the public confidence in elected officials and public employees. Because when people look at this they think, ‘there they go again, there goes the city of Scranton giving a favor or giving a bump to a city employee.'”

Gaughan’s colleagues Pat Rogan, Tim Perry, Kyle Donahue and Wayne Evans voted in favor of the motion.  According to the Times-Tribune, all but Rogan expressed their concern with the ethical implications of Hinton’s generous deal.

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