Will, left, and James Noble, at recent meeting
KINGSTON – Third Ward Alderman Brad Will was found guilty on October 6 of violating the Kingston City ethics code, and fined $1,000. As of Friday, the 45-day deadline for compliance has expired, and the fine has not yet paid, according to staff at the city comptroller’s office.
City Council President James Noble has not yet issued a letter of reprimand to Alderman Will, as recommended by the ethics board in their October 6 decision. Noble was also told to make a verbal statement at the city council meeting, which did not happen either.
Six days after his guilty verdict, on October13, Brad Will allegedly violated the ethics code again, by representing the Irish Cultural Center before the city planning board, in the capacity of architect, while simultaneously serving as common council liaison to the planning board, a conflict of interest.
A few days later, on October 19, Will filed for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Poughkeepsie Federal Court, listing his address as Bearsville in the Town of Woodstock – potentially disqualifying him for serving as alderman in the city.
Will has refused comment on the bankruptcy, the address discrepancy, and the continued ethics problems. He won re-election on November 3 by a slim 17-vote margin; absentee ballots put him over the top to win the election.
“What’s the matter with the city, did they care. I’m going to have to speculate they don’t. They’ve been misinformed; they’ve been duped,” said outgoing Mayor Shayne Gallo, commenting on Brad Will’s re-election victory.
“What really concerns me is that Mr. Will was found guilty of an ethics violation and fined a thousand dollars, but Jimmy Noble refuses, per an order of the ethics board, to issue a reprimand,” Gallo said. “That is outrageous, it shows no transparency no regard for the law.”
The mayor said it is “disgusting that one week after he’s found guilty, Mr. Will engages in the same conduct that violated the law a week prior.” Gallo questioned if the voters of the Third Ward car. “Are they aware, or totally oblivious to the fact that this does not bode well?”
Gallo also lambasted Will for fudging his address in bankruptcy. “You have on this petition a different address. You’re now an elected official in Ward Three, City of Kingston, Zip Code 12401. That’s your mother’s house, Mr. Will, please advise,” Gallo said.
