One Windham town councilor has lost touch with the difference between being a NASCAR driver and discharging his official duties in an ethical manner. No, Peter Busque hasn’t been cruising around town in a stock car, but advertising his new concrete delivery business at council meetings on the clothing he wears. Car racing is a private enterprise making advertising on one’s clothing perfectly appropriate and necessary in funding the sport. Council meetings on the other hand are taxpayer-funded and should be free from our elected officials’ private interests interfering with town business.

When I first saw Councilor Busque in a T-shirt at a council meeting on April 26, it seemed a bit peculiar and definitely a lack of decorum not befitting the office. Decorum is defined as “dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.” according to Dictionary.com. Section 13 of the Council Rules of Procedure states “The Chairman shall preserve decorum…”. While I am not one generally offended by one’s apparel choices, I am when such choices are in violation of Windham’s Municipal Code of Ethics. On page 4 under the heading “Use of Town Property and Facilities” the Code states: “No Town official shall use or authorize others to use Town-owned property, including but not limited to motor vehicles, equipment and buildings except for the following: A. for Town business; B. for purposes and on terms generally available to other persons; C. according to a contract of employment with the Town in which use of such property is part of the compensation or term of employment.

Town Hall, the Council Chambers within, local cable Channel 7, and Windhamweb TV are the property of the town, and by extension the residents of Windham. In wearing clothing to promote his business and using town assets to do it while performing official duties, Councilor Busque has violated the Windham Municipal Code of Ethics. Advertising has a value, especially when implemented in a place where private businesses are not afforded the same opportunity.

Unless you are a member of the council, town manager, or town clerk, you do not have the two to four hours that a meeting lasts to sit in front of the public in council chambers, on public access TV, or streamed over the Web to advertise your business. Using on multiple occasions something that does not belong to you for pecuniary gain does not promote public confidence and integrity in government. I somehow doubt Councilor Busque was given a special compensation contract to advertise as described in item “C” in the “Use of Town Property and Facilities” provision mentioned previously.

So what to do with Councilor Busque? The Windham Municipal Code of Ethics lays out a procedure for dealing with violations of the code that I equate to a fox guarding the hen house scenario. Windham’s town council has not appointed an Ethics Board which has sat vacant for sometime. For Ethics Board fact-finding to occur, it must be initiated by a town official through a statement describing the matter to the chairperson of the appropriate board and Council Chair. From there, if the executive board feels that an advisory opinion is necessary, it shall by majority or tie vote send the matter to the Ethics Board. Once sent to the Ethics Board, the matter is investigated and said opinion is rendered. From there, violations of the Code shall result in censure-an official reprimand-after notice and hearings conducted by the Town Council. Additionally there may be penalties or remedies as may be provided by law.

The lack of a standing Ethics Board is not a free pass to violate the Code of Ethics and potentially state statutes. Neither are absurd reasons like “I was just at a job site,” or “it was my only clean shirt.” Concrete evidence of Councilor Busque’s violation can be found in review of the Web casts (check out the Pledge of Allegiance) along with those that witnessed this self-interested, marketing impropriety.

Don’t let Peter Busque’s fellow councilors join his pit crew through refusing to act on upholding Windham’s Municipal Code of Ethics. Hold them accountable in keeping Windham on a virtuous track.

Patrick Corey lives in Windham. Visit his blog at patrickcorey.com to ask questions and leave comments.