AUBURN – Councilors reappointed lawyer Peter Garcia to a two-year term on the city Ethics Panel but will take a couple of weeks to choose alternates.
Garcia and fellow panel member the Rev. Paul Martz will need those alternates to settle a dispute between councilors over a downtown garage bond vote. City Clerk Mary Lou Magno said any registered Auburn voters more than 18 years old can apply to be a panel alternate. Applications are available on the city’s Web site or at the clerk’s office. Magno and Councilor Joe Defilipp will recommend two alternates from the applications.
The three councilors involved in the Ethics Panel hearing all abstained from Monday’s vote. Councilors Bob Mennealy and Belinda Gerry collected signatures to have the panel review colleague Kelly Matzen’s votes earlier this month in favor of a parking garage in Great Falls Plaza.
Matzen’s law firm, Trafton and Matzen, lists Pasquale Maiorino as an associate. Maiorino is also a partner of developer Tom Platz, who hopes to a build an office complex near the garage. Mennealy, Gerry and Matzen all abstained from voting.
The three-member panel met briefly last week, but member Earl Austin stepped down. Austin, a personal friend of Matzen, said he felt he had a conflict of interest.
The two remaining panel members tabled their discussions until alternates could be appointed.
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