Ethics code

A lot’s happened since Riverhead adopted its ethics code in 2005. Big developers with money to spend to get what they want have arrived. An ethics code must protect the public against undue influences. Riverhead’s code comes up short. 

In an opinion dated April 30, the Riverhead Board of Ethics said it found no evidence that Riverhead planning and building administrator Jefferson Murphree violated either the towns ethics code or his employment contract by working as a consultant for a developer of a site on the traffic circle in Riverside.

The Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association has filed an ethics complaint against Riverhead planning and building administrator Jefferson Murphree in connection with his private consulting work for a developer seeking permits to build a gas station and convenience store on the Riverside traffic circle just across the town line in downtown Riverhead.

The town board on Tuesday will appoint Bay Shore attorney David Besso of the firm Long Tuminello LLP to advise the ethics board in the pending complaint against Councilwoman Jodi Giglio.

The town board split 3-2 in the vote, with council members Jodi Giglio and John Dunleavy opposed, calling the move motivated by political revenge after two Republican incumbents lost the party nomination for re-election.

The town board — and Supervisor Sean Walter in particular — got an earful Tuesday afternoon on a proposed ethics code amendment that critics said was motivated by retaliation against the Riverhead Republican party leader.

After two years of intermittent squabbling over the issue, the Riverhead Town Board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on a proposed ethics...