As I read baytobaynews.com, I noticed a letter published by Dover resident William Faust that I found both interesting and alarming (“Some got it right on Dover church funding”). Mr. Faust writes about a situation involving a church in the downtown area, People’s Church of Dover, whose administrators requested $47,363 from the city’s Economic Development Fund, which consists of taxpayer dollars. The letter went on to say that the funding was denied due to complaints by residents about the church’s activities and serious violations, to include public health infractions. What perturbed me most after reading this letter was finding out that City Councilman David Anderson failed to disclose that he served as a Board of Trustees member for People’s Church, which was, in fact, applying for city funding. Mr. Faust wrote in his letter, “Councilman Dave Anderson is the chair of the committee that oversaw the vote for approving city funds for the church. Anderson also served on the Board of Trustees for People’s Church up until two days before the Committee of the Whole meeting.” The letter went on to state, “Councilman Anderson was not so transparent and forthcoming. He was going to continue chairing the committee and vote on the matter, until I brought up that there was a conflict because he is affiliated with the church and was on its board. Councilman Anderson attempted to sidestep my inquiry that not recusing himself was unethical.”
It appears there are ethical missteps by Councilman David Anderson regarding conflict-of-interest boundaries.
It would be prudent for the city Ethics Commission or the state Public Integrity Commission to review, investigate and assess this critical situation for public confidence.
Councilman Anderson is not above the law.
Tyron Scott
Dover
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
