Opinion
Disclosure
May 1, 2008

For the second time in as many months, an elected official is under fire for involvement in a meeting. This time it’s Selectman Sally Hines, who led questioning of Norwalk Hospital during a discussion of bids for the emergency medical services contract without disclosing that her husband was a doctor for Stamford Hospital. Doctors from Stamford Hospital were speaking during consideration of a bid from Stamford EMS, a separate nonprofit.

Previously it was Town Council members Tom O’Dea and Penny Young, who sat with the Council while New Canaan Rink, Inc., made a presentation on its proposal to build an ice rink. Both are board members and had stated such at the meeting.

All three have been caught up in a culture looking for some conflict to be behind any question asked, and eager to cling to a conspiracy theory.

It’s possible Ms. Hines could have avoided the heat had she simply spelled out the connection before asking any questions. That would seem reasonable. But so soon after Mr. O’Dea and Mrs. Young were called to task by some for where they sat, it may not have been enough.

With fewer and fewer people holding more and more roles (the writer of this editorial, by way of disclosure, is a member of the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Community Emergency Response Team), it’s inevitable that roles will overlap. One would hope that disclosure of any such potential conflicts of interest would let in enough sunlight to disinfect and restore trust in the process.

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers