TRENTON — The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has postponed its annual meeting — and distribution of more than $16 million in grants — to focus on ethics training for its members, as requested by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. Guadagno, who also serves as Secretary of State and oversees the cultural agency, asked that the council delay...
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A 2009 photo of NJPAC, the second most-frequented venue by members of the New Jersey Council on the Arts, records show. TRENTON — The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has postponed its annual meeting — and distribution of more than $16 million in grants — to focus on ethics training for its members, as requested by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.
Guadagno, who also serves as Secretary of State and oversees the cultural agency, asked that the council delay its grant-making until members could attend new ethics training and reaffirm all policies of the state Ethics Commission.
"We want to be confident that the grants are done in the most ethical way and in the most ethical climate," said Shawn Crisafulli, Guadagno’s spokesman.
The annual meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, will now convene Aug. 17.
Guadagno’s request came in response to a Star-Ledger report about inconsistencies in ethical policies and paperwork requirements at the council. In addition to attending ethics training, Guadagno wants council members to create a more thorough site visit form and complete it after attending arts events. She also wants the council to agree to a reorganization that will move oversight from executive director Steve Runk to an official in her office. Finally, she wants the council to appoint a new executive director.
In a letter to the arts community today, Guadagno acknowledged the independence of the council, a 17-member body of volunteers appointed by the governor to three-year terms. Crisafulli said Guadagno is confident her measures will be adopted.
"We have full faith and confidence in the chair, that since these questions have arisen, she will take the appropriate action to hire an executive director capable of maintaining high ethical standards and tighter management controls as we distribute taxpayer dollars," Crisafulli said.
ArtPride/New Jersey, the statewide advocacy organization and frequent partner of the arts council, told its members it had written to Guadagno to express "concern for the integrity of the NJSCA and support of its independent evaluation process that is uninfluenced by political pressure," said Mark Packer, the group’s president.
