Oneida Council Launches Investigation into Ethics Breach Allegations

Oneida, N.Y. – The Oneida Common Council has unanimously voted to initiate an investigation into a suspected ethics breach linked to discussions held during executive sessions. The council’s decision, taken on September 16, 2023, follows concerns regarding the potential leak of confidential information related to Oneida City Manager Kyle Lovell‘s salary negotiations for 2026.

The council’s vote was 5-0, reflecting a strong consensus on the need for scrutiny. Brahim Zogby, a member of the Oneida City Ethics Committee, highlighted in his letter to the mayor and council that there could be a breach of contract. This relates to Lovell’s performance review and contract renewal not being completed in a timely manner. Zogby also raised alarms about the possibility of a council member leaking confidential information from executive sessions to the public.

In his letter, Zogby stated, “It is our recommendation that the mayor and Common Council members commit to a full investigation with an independent third party to uncover the leaks of confidential information from executive council meetings.” The call for an independent investigation underscores the seriousness of the allegations, which suggest a violation of fiduciary duty.

Before the council’s vote, Lovell publicly urged anyone responsible for the leaks to come forward. He expressed a desire to avoid a costly investigation involving third parties and potential subpoenas, stating, “Just admit you made a mistake.” Despite his appeal, no council members responded, and both Mayor Rick Rossi and Deputy Mayor Steve Laureti were absent from the meeting.

General municipal law prohibits municipal officers and employees from disclosing confidential information encountered in their official roles. The content discussed during executive sessions is deemed confidential, and any unauthorized disclosure is enforceable by law.

The Oneida City Ethics Committee convened with Lovell on September 15, 2023, to address concerns related to confidential discussions held during a council meeting on September 2, 2023. Lovell, whose full-time salary is $120,000 per year, has a contract set to begin on October 22, 2024, lasting four years with a performance review after the first year.

According to Lovell’s contract, a successful performance review could lead to a salary increase at the council’s discretion. A meeting to evaluate his performance and salary for 2026 is scheduled to occur within ten days of June 1, 2025. The process has been complicated by a lack of communication from the mayor and council regarding Lovell’s requests for contract negotiations.

On August 21, 2023, Lovell emailed the mayor and council detailing his accomplishments and seeking formal contract negotiations, but received no response. Following this, city resident Wayne Winchell filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for Lovell’s correspondence between August 11 and August 24, 2023. Lovell noted that while Winchell’s request was legal, the subsequent public sharing of information was problematic.

On August 25, Lovell sent another email to the council regarding contract discussions, proposing dates for an executive session. Though Rossi agreed to discuss the contract after that evening’s council meeting, Lovell left without further information.

The following week, Lovell sent another email seeking an update on his contract negotiations. However, on September 10, Winchell publicly disclosed part of the FOIL request on Facebook, which included details about Lovell’s negotiations. This was followed by a post from Andy Craig on September 11, sharing specific information from the executive session that only council members had access to.

Lovell, a retired senior operations manager from the U.S. Air Force and former Seneca County Manager, is currently serving as the fifth city manager since Oneida transitioned to a city manager government model following a charter amendment voted on November 7, 2023. His position is at-will, allowing either party to terminate it with 30 days’ notice.

As the investigation unfolds, the Oneida Common Council faces the task of addressing these serious allegations while maintaining the integrity of its governance. The outcome could have significant implications for the council and its leadership, as well as for Lovell’s ongoing role as city manager.