2-8-21 fdl ethics board to issue written decision within a week

The Fond du Lac Ethics Board is expected to make a decision within a week following a day long hearing for a Fond du lac city councilmember accused of violating the city’s ethics code.  The board heard testimony Friday on whether Ben Giles violated three sections of the Code:  Dedicated Service, Fair and Equal Treatment and Conflict of Interest.  In closing arguments the attorney for the city, Tony Renning, says while there was no evidence of a quid pro quo, Giles’ hiring as the director of the  Historical Society,  could  “impair his independence of judgement on the issue of Lakeside Park to maintain those donors”   who agreed to transfer their donations to the society that allowed Giles to be hired for the position.  Renning told the Ethics Board that Giles was an outspoken representative of the Lakeside Forward Board, advocating for park development without the advice or consent of the city council.   Giles attorney Dan Bach says the evidence did not bear out any conflict of interest and there was no evidence that Giles exceeded his authority.  Bach says there was clearly a “rush to file complaints by people who either didn’t know what the situation really was or didn’t care.”