By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Although reforms to the village code of ethics drew no comments from the public prior to being ratified, it drew a slew of concerns from a trustee at Tuesday’s village board meeting.

Trustee Timothy Ahlfeld, who ultimately voted against the revisions, said he doesn’t understand why an ethics committee is necessary and thinks penalties for those found in violation are too harsh.

“We have general municipal law to take care of us, look at Sheldon Silver, they’re going to come in with guns blazing,” he said. Silver is the former Assembly speaker who is now facing federal corruption charges for accepting bribes and kickbacks while serving in public office.

Mayor Tim Currier clarified that the ethics committee’s job is to identify conflicts of interest for public officials and prescribe a course of action.

“I would think the (village) attorney’s opinion would have more clout than a board of ethics,” Ahlfeld said.

Trustee Albert Deshaies, who later voted in favor of the bill, said he thinks the board’s personnel committee should handle ethics issues. The committee includes Deshaies and Trustee Francis Carvel.

“I think that’s why the personnel committee was formed … we represent the board … and make sure everything’s on the up and up,” he said.

Ahlfeld also chastised the section that allows up to 15 days in jail and a $250 fine for those found to have willfully violated the law.

“The penalties ... I mean seriously? We’re going to imprison them for no more than 15 days and fine them $250?” he said.

Massena resident R. Shawn Gray, speaking during public comment, said he thinks the penalties are necessary.

“I think you have to have punishment … there has to be some repercussions,” Gray said. “If the big box store comes and says ‘I’ll give you five grand to look the other way, convince the other guys,’ there has to be punishment.”

“That’s right,” replied a woman in the audience who did not identify herself.

Ahlfeld also said he isn’t comfortable with some of what he characterized as the law’s vague language.

One example he cited is a provision barring village officials from naming people “close” to them to service positions.

“Guy was in my wedding. Is that close? Went to high school with them. Is that close?” Ahlfeld said.

Trustees Matt Lebire and Carvel, who voted in favor of the bill, said they think it’s a good thing to have on the books.

“I was happy to see the nepotism section,” Lebire said.

“I think the public is looking for something like this today,” Carvel said.

Currier pointed out that the changes include “Our conflict of interest is more clearly defined … stronger and broader language on misuse of a position, nepotism .. gifts are more clearly outlined, disclosure of interest is more clearly defined … when there is a conflict of interest in making a decision, it must be disclosed.”

“Government at every level should have strong rules regarding ethics, and we owe it to our citizens to require our elected officials, our appointed officers, officials and employees to live up to those high standards as they perform their duties," Currier said in an email following the meeting. “The people of Massena have every right to expect it, and this new local law goes a long way in meeting those expectations.”