While shamefully past due, the new town law proposed by the Halfmoon ethics panel ("Halfmoon proposes new town ethics law," Feb. 5) is welcome news to residents concerned with the spate of questionable ethical violations enumerated so well and with such frequency by the Times Union.
Perhaps now that the panel is finished drafting the new language its members might turn their attention to pursuit of the various ethical infringements of the past year or so. It is quite a list.
Should the committee decide to act, its efforts would go a long way toward signaling to residents, who are understandably skeptical, that town officials are interested in ethical reform. One hopes there might be some consequence or at least recognition by a town body that there have been violations.
In a time when elected leaders struggle so mightily with accepting responsibility, a rap on the knuckles by the ethics committee might be the best one can hope for.
I wish the committee the courage and ethical fortitude needed to carry out the tasks it is charged with. Only then might the town begin to "build trust" with residents, as Councilman Craig Hayner stated.
THERESE ASSALIAN
Halfmoon