Sixteen months after four women were fired from town government jobs for gossiping about their boss, the Hooksett Town Council may now adopt an official code of ethics and conduct.

The document, still in draft form, would apply to all town employees, committee members, volunteers and elected officials. In its current state, the threeand- a-half-page code covers topics ranging from honesty and respect to confidentiality and fairness.

Council members denied that the document is linked to the so-called Hooksett Four controversy, which erupted in April last year.

The process of drafting the code “started considerably after the Hooksett Four, and even prior to the Hooksett Four, there was discussion that there should be an ethics policy and a conduct policy in place,” said Town Councilor James Gorton after the council meeting on July 9. Town Councilor Paul Loiselle said the possibility of adopting the ethics code would have more to do with new committee members than employees of the town.

“It has to do with new members of committees coming on, and this is a policy that lets them know how they should be dealing with the public,” said Loiselle, who was also elected Town Council vice chairman earlier in the same meeting. Loiselle said the council may be ready to vote on adopting the new policies at its next meeting on July 23. “I consider this (code) a final draft, but this is a moving document, so anytime someone feels like something should be added, we will have that latitude,” he said.

If the code is officially adopted, changes to the town charter and personnel plan will have to be negotiated to reflect the new policies.

Newly elected Town Council Chairman David Dickson expressed concern over possible confusion or overlap among the ethics code, town charter and personnel plan.

“I don’t want it to become a confusing document,” Dickson said.

In other business, the council:

• Voted its officers for the current fiscal year. In addition to Dickson as chairman and Loiselle as vice chairman, Nancy VanScoy will serve as secretary.
• Discussed reuse alternatives for the old town hall at 16 Main St. No action was taken.
• Authorized the installation of four no-parking signs along the cul-de-sac of Quality Drive.