By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
City employees attended mandatory ethics training led by officials from the Office of State Ethics in the Harriet C. North Community Room at City Hall.
Mayor Dorinda Borer required all city employees to attend one of three training sessions Feb. 1 “as part of our ongoing commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.”
The training centered on the West Haven Code of Ethics and other governmental ethics best practices and was taught by Peter Lewandowski, the state office’s executive director, and Sarah R. Clark, the office’s director of education and communications.
The training was based in part on the new Code of Ethics implemented in 2023.
Lewandowski and Clark presented a number of scenarios showing common unethical practices in government and educated employees on avoiding them.
Borer greeted employees at each of the hourlong sessions throughout the day, which included a Q&A session, and stressed the importance of the training and adhering to the high standard of government employees.
Employees of City Hall and satellite offices attended the training, with a session recorded for makeup purposes and new employees.
Borer suggested that the next phase include elected officials and board and commission members.
“From our longtime employees to our new employees, I’m grateful that everyone was eager to demonstrate our collective commitment to restoring trust,” Borer said. “The employees engaged in the sessions and asked good questions. We want everyone involved in the delivery of West Haven’s government services to be apprised of the Code of Ethics.”
“Between the IT security training and now the ethics training, I appreciate all of the valuable input we’re receiving as employees,” said Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics Elaine Antosca, a new employee of the city clerk’s office. “The more informed we are, the better we’re able to serve the public.”
West Haven’s Board of Ethics is the governing body that handles all ethical matters concerning city employees. The five-member board is approved by the City Council.
The state ethics office encourages accountability and integrity throughout state government by providing legal advice, guidance and education to public officials, state employees, and lobbyists, according to its website.