On Thursday, the Brookfield Board of Ethics started its investigatory process on two of three complaints that have recently been forwarded to them.
Though the board is allowed to keep confidential the nature of those complaints, the public expectation is that these discussions and complaints revolve around the conduct of Republican First Selectman Bill Tinsley and a new school board member, Greg Beck, A Brookfield Party minority candidate. A third complaint has also been filed against someone, but the identity of that individual has not been publicly discussed, although speculation is it might be a complaint about former First Selectman Bill Davidson.
Tinsley’s plea of non-contest to a misdemeanor charge of petit larceny in Vermont, a matter that was not publicly aired prior to the election, is expected to be the source of one complaint, and Beck’s Facebook post related to the Sandy Hook tragedy is expected to be a second. Some in town have said a complaint was to be filed against Davidson related to his admitted election day removal of a Republican political sign from a private yard.
On Thursday, the board did not release specifics, but did opt to dismiss one complaint, and found in the second enough probable cause to proceed to a formal hearing next month. On Friday, the board will consider yet another complaint and whether or not there is probable cause in that case for a formal hearing.
Committee Chairman Alice Carolan has officially stated that all of the information, including who filed a complaint and who the complaint is against, to date is confidential. The board’s attorney David Atkins will be the one to rule on when matters become public.
Atkins is not yet available for comment.
The News-Times will have more on this story.