Daniels the Target of PLA Ethics Complaint

With less than a week having passed since members of the council requested an ethics ruling on whether Mayor Michael Rohde had a conflict of interest in determining whether to veto a vote against a PLA agreement, an ethics complaint is now targeting City Councilman Brian Daniels.

The complaint, filed with City Clerk Irene Masse on Friday by a group of 16 members, accuses Daniels of “championing” the use of labor agreements for Platt High School and suggests it may be because of his father Paul Daniels Sr.’s ties to local unions.

Paul Daniels Sr. is president of the Connecticut branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Brian Daniels has declined comment on the complaint.

“This will explain Councilman Daniels’ persistent involvement and the reason he has championed the use of union labor or the PLA for Platt,” the Record-Journal reported the complaint as stating.

Although officials confirmed the nature and accusations made in the complaint, the city’s Code of Ethics requires the complaint be sealed and delivered to the chairman of the Board of Ethics. A copy of the complaint could not be obtained Tuesday.

Daniels, the majority leader to the council, has openly supported PLA agreements at several council meetings, the meeting minutes show. Last week, however, the council voted by a 7-4 vote to rescind the agreement at Platt, citing cost factors as a reason.

For more on the complaint, visit the link to the Record-Journal's website.

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