Christina Sivret

The commission discussed the status of financial disclosure forms for the Executive Branch and candidates, working with the Secretary of State's office to clarify guidelines and administrative responsibilities. Guidance was provided regarding the reporting of SSI income on disclosure forms, allowing for general categorization. The legislative update covered testimony provided at the State House regarding funding requests for new staff, proposed legislative changes in S.291 concerning travel disclosures, commission member appointments, and the confidentiality of Ethics Commission memos. Additionally, discussions included the administrative workflow for financial disclosure forms and the promotion of online application procedures.

The meeting included discussions on the FY27 budget request, which represents a 10% increase over last year due to health insurance costs and maintenance of the online system for financial disclosures and municipal ethics training. There was also a report on the ongoing efforts to identify speakers for the ethics speaker series. The commission members voted to go into Executive Session to discuss complaints and guidance requests received since the last meeting. A commissioner reported on a positive experience speaking at the International Visitor Exchange program, and there was a discussion about drafting a letter to the Governor regarding the need for more funding for the Ethics Commission.

The meeting included discussion of financial disclosures, with updates on the 2026 online forms to include new requirements from Act 171, expanding to county officials. The Executive Director reported ongoing efforts to organize a fall speaker series. An executive session was held to discuss complaints and guidance requests. There was also a discussion regarding the budget request for FY27, with no new information available pending the Governor's proposed budget release.

Key discussion points included the progress on financial disclosure forms, noting efforts to address concerns regarding online data security and statutory disclosure requirements. In legislative matters, the Commission plans to advocate for converting the VBA position to a Governor-appointed role and is seeking an additional $300,000 in funding for two new staffing positions. The Executive Director is following up on Senator Welch's office participation in the Speaker Series. Furthermore, the Commission expressed concern regarding the lack of specific data in the Judicial Conduct Board's annual report and agreed that a letter regarding complaint reporting should be issued on behalf of all members. The meeting included an Executive Session to discuss complaints and guidance requests.

Key discussions centered on the status of Financial Disclosures, with the Administrative Assistant continuing outreach to outstanding filers. A significant portion of the meeting involved conferring on a request from the House Ethics Panel regarding the confidentiality surrounding memos referred by the Ethics Commission. The Commission decided to seek a meeting with the House Clerk to discuss concerns before providing guidance. Furthermore, the Commission reported on its recent testimony before the House and Senate Government Operations Committees, during which they requested funding appropriations, as the Governor did not include funding in his budget proposal. The Commission is preparing for a forthcoming appearance before the House Appropriation committee. Other business included a report on the COGEL conference, noting insights gained regarding the operations and staffing of other ethics commissions.