ONEIDA, N.Y. -- The Oneida city government is continuing its investigation into an alleged ethics breach involving contract negotiations.
During the council's Feb. 3 meeting, First Ward Councilwoman Lynne McHugh continued the investigation by requesting a legal definition of what an ethics breach looks like. This way, any future action taken by the city mayor, manager, and the council will have an established legal basis.
"I'd like clarification regarding executive session confidentiality and the legal implications of a council member disclosing information discussed in executive session," McHugh said.
McHugh also asked that the city attorney's office submit an official written opinion. That opinion would include citations for reference. "It would be good to have something in writing," she said.
Attorney Stacy Marris said her office would work on the definition. "My office could provide training regarding executive session procedures and confidentiality. We could include guidance on what information may or may not be disclosed," she said.
McHugh asked Marris if there were any updates on the investigation. Marris said that her office is working on the case. "There are no updates at this time," Marris said.
McHugh had asked about the investigation during the council's Jan. 20 meeting. Deputy Mayor Thomas Simchik said he would check with Mayor Rick Rossi to determine the investigation's status.
Marris advised that her office had received the inquiry and was reviewing available options. "Any advice and recommendations will be provided to the council as appropriate," she said.
The investigation began after a suspected leak into contract negotiations conducted during an executive session after the council's meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. These discussions involved Oneida City Manager Kyle Lovell's 2026 salary negotiations that were apparently leaked to the public.
During the Jan. 20 meeting, Second Ward Councilman David Cimpi questioned the viability of the investigation and whether it would justify the expense involved.
"The council is aware of the confidentiality requirements associated with executive session," Cimpi said. "But the individuals involved are no longer with the city. It's water over the dam. We should forward."
McHugh disagreed.
"We want the public to see us as responsible and the council as accountable," she said.
Lovell said in a previous meeting that even if a council member is not in office, they could face fines if found guilty.
"We are looking into whether we can have them reimburse the city for legal fees even if they are no longer in office," he said.
On Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, Oneida resident Andy Craig posted specific information on Facebook known only to council members present at the Sept. 2 executive session.
On Sept. 16, the council voted 5-0 to begin an investigation into the alleged leak. Before the vote, Lovell urged a confession from whoever may have been leaking the content of the executive sessions.
"Before we proceed, I'd like to give whoever has been doing this the chance to admit what they have done and save the city from yet another investigation involving the hiring of a third party and subpoenas that will cost us tens of thousands of dollars," Lovell said during a previous meeting in September. "Just admit you made a mistake."
During the Oct. 7, 2025, council meeting, Lovell passed out copies of a printed confidentiality agreement. The agreement included statements that all signees had not knowingly violated the meeting law, would cooperate with any investigation, and were aware of possible punishments. Former Deputy Mayor Steve Laureti and councilmen Jim Szczerba and Rob Winchell declined to sign the document.
"We are a nation of laws, and when those laws are broken, we no longer have a nation," Lovell said on Oct. 7. "I'm a former military man and I've dedicated my career to seeing things run the right way."
Lovell is a retired senior operations manager in the U.S. Air Force and the former Seneca County Manager.
New York's executive session laws are part of the state's Open Meetings Law, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public unless a specific, legally-defined reason exists to enter a closed session.
Executive sessions involving government officials in New York are confidential, and disclosing details of salary negotiations -- especially for a specific person -- can lead to serious ethical violations and removal from office.
Leaks of executive session information may carry legal consequences, including potential fines up to $10,000 or removal from office.