Ethics panel takes no action against Selby

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 | 9:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A panel of the state Ethics Commission Tuesday dismissed complaints against Las Vegas City Manager Douglas Selby and his deputy, Elizabeth Fretwell, filed in connection with the controversy surrounding Assemblyman Wendell Williams.

The panel, composed of George Keele and Jim Kosinski, ruled there was no "just and sufficient cause" to go to a full-scale hearing by the Ethics Commission on the conflict-of-interest complaint filed by attorney Richard Segerblom, whose wife is a city executive.

When asked if he was surprised at the Ethics Commission's action, Selby said, "No, but it relieves me.

"I'm just satisfied it was dismissed," he said. "The decision of the Ethics Commission in the matter was appropriate. The complaint was without merit, without foundation."

Segerblom's office said he was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Williams, who worked for the Neighborhood Services Program, was fired for allegedly overcharging the city for work he claimed he did for the program while serving in the 2003 Legislature in Carson City.

Segerblom's wife, Sharon, was Williams' supervisor. She was reassigned to the Department of Detention and Enforcement as an administrative officer because of her handling of the Williams' pay issues. She kept the same $125,000-a-year salary.

The investigation into Williams' and Segerblom's conduct was done by Fretwell, and the disciplinary action was taken by Selby.

The ethics panel accepted the recommendation of its Executive Director Stacy Jennings that there was no credible evidence that Selby and Fretwell violated any ethics or conflict-of-interest laws.

Richard Wright, the attorney for Selby and Fretwell, had challenged the complaint, saying, "All Mr. Selby and Ms. Fretwell did was to investigate alleged cheating by Wendell Williams and Mrs. Segerblom's involvement as Mr. Williams supervisor."

Wright said Fretwell's "investigation led to unflattering conclusions regarding both Williams and Mrs. Segerblom."

He said Selby and Fretwell "were publicly vilified by Segerblom as he tried to ward off potential discipline of his wife." He said Segerblom's attacks in public violated Nevada's ethics laws requiring confidentiality of complaints at the early stage of filing.