Source: https://www.ecode360.com/26870942
Timestamp: 2018-10-24 02:44:12
Document Index: 67513147

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33', '§ 33']

Town of Smithsburg, MD Ethics
§ 33-1 Statutory authority.
§ 33-2 Applicability.
§ 33-3 Ethics Commission.
§ 33-4 Town duties.
§ 33-6 Financial disclosure for local elected officials and candidates to be local elected officials.
§ 33-7 Financial disclosure for employees and appointed officials.
§ 33-8 Exemptions and modifications.
§ 33-9 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
Chapter 33: Ethics
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Smithsburg 2-7-2012 (Ch. 2, Title 6, of the 2004 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 33 : Ethics
As permitted by the State Government Article, Title 15, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the Smithsburg Ethics Ordinance is as follows.
The provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise herein provided, shall apply to all Smithsburg officials, employees, and members of boards and commissions, including but not limited to:
Each member of the Council.
The Town Clerk/Treasurer/Manager.
All heads of departments of the Town by whatever title they are known.
Members of all boards, commissions and committees appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council.
The Town Ethics Commission shall be the Washington County Ethics Commission which is composed of five members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland. The Commission shall be advised by the County Attorney and shall have the following responsibilities:
To conduct a public information program regarding the purposes and applications of this chapter.
In fulfilling its responsibilities as set forth above while acting as the Town Ethics Commission, the Washington County Ethics Commission shall utilize the processes and procedures it follows in carrying out its responsibilities under the Washington County Ethics Ordinance, except that it shall apply the substantive terms of this chapter (not the Washington County Ethics Ordinance) in providing advisory opinions and in processing and making determinations in instances of filed complaints.
The Town shall devise, receive and maintain all forms and records generated by this chapter.[1]
The Town shall certify to the State Ethics Commission on or before October 1 of each year that the Town is in compliance with the requirements of State Government Article, Title 15, Subtitle 8, Annotated Code of Maryland, for elected local officials.
A person who is disqualified from participating under Subsection C(1)(a) or (b) shall disclose the nature and circumstances of the conflict and may participate or act if:
The prohibitions of Subsection C(1)(a) and (b) do not apply if participation is allowed by regulation or opinion of the Commission.
Subject to the authority of the official or employee or the Town agency, board, commission with which the official or employee is affiliated; or
"Gift" means the transfer of anything of economic value, regardless of the form, without adequate and lawful consideration. "Gift" does not include a political campaign contribution regulated under the Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, or any other provision of state or local law regulating the conduct of elections or the receipt of political campaign contributions.
Subsection H(6) of this section does not apply to a gift:
Notwithstanding Subsection H(4) of this section, an official or employee may accept the following:
Disclosure of confidential information. Other than in the discharge of official duties, an official or employee may not disclose or use confidential information that the official or employee acquired by reason of the official's or employee's public position, and that is not available to the public, for the economic benefit of the official or employee or that of another person.
Except for an official who has filed a financial disclosure statement under another provision of this section for the reporting period, a candidate to be an elected local official shall file a financial disclosure statement each year, beginning with the year in which the certificate of candidacy is filed through the year of the election.
May file the statement required under Subsection B(2)(a) of this section with the Town Clerk-Treasurer or Board of Supervisors of Elections with the certificate of candidacy or with the Commission prior to filing the certificate of candidacy; and[1]
If a candidate fails to file a statement required by this section after written notice is provided by the Town Clerk-Treasurer or Board of Supervisors of Elections at least 20 days before the last day for the withdrawal of candidacy, the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn the candidacy.[2]
The Town Clerk-Treasurer or Board of Supervisors of Elections may not accept any certificate of candidacy unless a statement has been filed in proper form.[3]
Within 30 days of the receipt of a statement required under this section, the Town Clerk-Treasurer or Board of Supervisors of Elections shall forward the statement to the Commission or the office designated by the Commission.[4]
A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in any corporation, partnership, limited-liability partnership, or limited-liability corporation, regardless of whether the corporation or partnership does business with the Town.
The identity of the person from whom or on behalf of whom, directly or indirectly, the gift was received.
For the purposes of Subsection E(1), (2), and (3) of this section, the following interests are considered to be the interests of the individual making the statement:
The Town Clerk/Treasurer/Manager.[1]
All heads of departments, by whatever title they are holding.
On or before April 30 of each year during which an official or employee holds office, an official or employee shall file a statement disclosing gifts received during the preceding calendar year from any person that contracts with or is regulated by the Town, including the name of the donor of the gift and the approximate retail value at the time of receipt.
The Commission shall maintain all disclosure statements filed under this section as public records available for public inspection and copying as provided in § 33-6C and D of this chapter.
The Commission may grant exemptions and modifications to the provisions of §§ 33-5 and 33-6 of this chapter if it determines that application of those provisions would:
Constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy.
Not be required to preserve the purposes of this chapter.
The Commission may issue a cease and desist order against any person found to be in violation of this chapter and may seek enforcement of that order in the Circuit Court for Washington County, Maryland. The Court may issue a cease and desist order and may also impose a fine of up to $1,000 for any violation of the provisions of this chapter.
A Town official or employee found to have violated this chapter may be subject to disciplinary or other appropriate personnel action, including suspension of Town salary or other compensation.