Town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino's ethics reform proposal passed in a vote Tuesday night, along with an amendment to one of the more controversial issues it addresses.
Santino's ethics reform plan prohibits elected officials from earning more than $125,000 a year in outside income. Some council members feel it was a way to keep them out of office.
"To suggest that just because we make money from an outside source that has nothing to do with the Town of Hempstead, all of a sudden, we are no longer eligible to be council members - it's so obvious that this is a power grab by the supervisor," said Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney.
The supervisor's amendment provided a "full disclosure" alternative for those who make over $125,000, requiring elected officials to disclose all clients they work for or consult.
"I am proud that my strong ethics reform proposal is now the 'law of the land' in Hempstead Town," said Santino in prepared remarks. "We are opening the doors and windows of government, giving residents the transparency they deserve through unparalleled public disclosure provisions."
Its passage did not come without any hiccups. Some fellow Republicans accused the supervisor of keeping the amendment from them before Tuesday's board meeting.