Source: https://www.ecode360.com/9379217
Timestamp: 2018-12-14 08:28:38
Document Index: 574324557

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43', '§ 43']

Town of Bel Air, MD Ethics, Code of
§ 43-1 Applicability.
§ 43-3 Board of Ethics.
§ 43-4 Conflicts of interest.
§ 43-5 Financial disclosure: elected officials (incumbents) and candidates to be elected officials.
§ 43-6 Financial disclosure: employees and appointed officials.
§ 43-7 Lobbying.
§ 43-8 Exemptions and modifications.
§ 43-9 Enforcement.
Chapter 43: Ethics, Code of
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Town Commissioners of the Town of Bel Air 3-19-2012 by Ord. No. 749-12.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Personnel — See Ch. 82.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 43, Ethics, Code of, adopted 3-11-1980 by Ord. No. 310, as amended.
Chapter 43 : Ethics, Code of
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
The provisions of this chapter apply to all officials, candidates, employees, and appointees to boards and commissions of the Town of Bel Air.
Any partnership, association, corporation, firm, institution, trust, foundation, sole proprietor, or other organization (except the state and the Town of Bel Air or any agency thereof), whether or not operated for profit.
A person filing for election to a municipal office.
Money or any other valuable thing, regardless of form, received or to be received by a person from an employer for services rendered.
Ownership of an interest as the result of which the owner has received within the past three years, is currently receiving, or in the future is entitled to receive, more than $1,000 per year; or an official, employee or spouse of an official or employee has ownership of more than 3% of a business entity.
The transfer of anything of economic value, regardless of form, without adequate and lawful consideration. A gift does not include the solicitation, acceptance, receipt, or regulation of a political contribution that is regulated in accordance with the Election Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland or any other state law regulating the conduct of elections or the receipt of political contributions.
Any legal or equitable economic interest that is owned or held, in whole or in part, jointly or severally, directly or indirectly, whether or not the economic interest is subject to an encumbrance or condition. However, "interest" shall not include an interest held in the capacity of an agent, custodian, fiduciary, personal representative, or trustee, unless the holder has an equitable interest in the subject matter; an interest in a time or demand deposit in a financial institution; an interest in an insurance policy, endowment policy, or annuity contract by which an insurer promises to pay a fixed amount of money in a lump sum or periodically for life or some other specified period; or a common trust fund or a trust that forms part of a pension or a profit-sharing plan that has more than 25 participants and is determined by the IRS to be a qualified trust or college savings plan under the Internal Revenue Code.
Any Town Commissioner of the Town of Bel Air or person employed by and receiving compensation from the Town of Bel Air in any capacity; or on boards or commissions of the Town.
Land owned, leasehold interest, or option to purchase.
Any Town office, department, institution, board, commission or corporation which is recognized as a branch or segment of Town government, either by the Town Charter or by any ordinance or resolution of the Town.
TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TOWN OF BEL AIR
Any proceeding, application, submission, request for filing or other determination, any contract, claim or case, any sale or purchase, any computer transfer of moneys or information, or other such matter that the Town of Bel Air or any of the agencies, boards, commissions and offices thereof may be a party to or in which the Town of Bel Air may reasonably be expected to be a party.
The Board of Ethics is hereby established for the purpose of administering this Code of Ethics and recommending necessary changes to the Board of Town Commissioners from time to time. The Board of Ethics shall consist of five Town of Bel Air residents, not less than 21 years of age, who shall be appointed by the Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air. Members shall serve staggered four-year terms and shall be removed only for cause. No member of the Board shall be otherwise an official or employee of the Town of Bel Air, nor shall any member receive compensation.
The Board of Ethics of Bel Air shall:
Devise, receive, and maintain all forms required by this chapter.
Gifts disclosure form.
Lobbying registration form.
Completed forms will be received by the Town Clerk and forwarded to the Board of Ethics within 10 days of receipt.
All completed forms will be maintained on file at the Town Clerk's office for a period of four years.
Develop procedures and policies for advisory opinion requests and provide published advisory opinions to persons subject to this chapter regarding the applicability of the provisions of this chapter to them.
Develop procedures and policies for the processing of complaints to make appropriate determinations regarding complaints filed by any person alleging violations of this chapter.
The Town Attorney shall advise the Board of Ethics.
The Board of Ethics 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.
The Board of Ethics shall determine if changes to this chapter are required to be in compliance with the requirement of State Government Article, Title 15, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and shall forward any recommended changes and amendments to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners for enactment.
The Board of Ethics may adopt other policies and procedures to assist in the implementation of the programs established in this chapter.
Except as permitted by the regulations or opinion of the Board of Ethics of the Town of Bel Air, an official or employee may not participate in:
Any matter in which any of the following is a party, except in the exercise of an administrative or ministerial duty that does not affect the disposition or decision with respect to the matter:
A business entity with which the official or employee or, to the knowledge of the official or employee, a qualified relative of the official or employee is negotiating employment or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment;
A business entity that is a party to an existing contract with the official or employee, or which, to the knowledge of the official or employee, is a party to a contract with a qualified relative, if the contract reasonably could be expected to result in a conflict between the private interests of the official or employee and the official duties of the official or employee;
A business entity doing business with the Town in which a direct financial interest is owned by another entity in which the official or employee has a direct financial interest, if the official or employee may be reasonably expected to know of both direct financial interests; or
Which the official or employee knows is a creditor or obligee of the official or employee or of a qualified relative of the official or employee with respect to a thing of economic value; and
In which a creditor or obligee of the official or employee or of a qualified relative of the official or employee is in a position to directly and substantially affect the interest of the official or employee or of a qualified relative of the official or employee.
A person who is disqualified from participating under Subsection A(1)(a) and (b) shall disclose the nature and circumstances of the conflict using a conflict of interest form sufficiently in advance of the action and may participate or act if:
The prohibitions of Subsection A(1)(a) and (b) do not apply if participation is allowed by regulation or opinion of the Board of Ethics.
Except as permitted by regulation of the Board of Ethics, when the interest is disclosed or when the employment does not create a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict, an official or employee may not:
Be employed by or have a financial interest in an entity:
Subject to the authority of the official or employee or the Town agency, board or commission with which the official or employee is affiliated; or
Which is negotiating or has entered a contract with the agency, board or commission with which the official or employee is affiliated; or
Hold any other employment or relationship which would impair the impartiality or independence of judgment of the official or employee.
Subject to other provisions of law, a member of a board or commission in regard to a financial interest or employment held at the time of appointment, provided the financial interest or employment is publicly disclosed to the appointing authority and the Board of Ethics;
An official or employee whose duties are ministerial, if the private employment or financial interest does not create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, as permitted by and in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board of Ethics; or
Employment or financial interests allowed by regulation of the Board of Ethics if the employment does not create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest or the financial interest is disclosed.
Until the conclusion of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Town Commissioners that begins after the elected official leaves office, a former official or member of the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners may not assist or represent another party for compensation in a matter that is the subject of legislative action.
Contingent compensation. Except in a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, an official or employee may not assist or represent a party for contingent compensation (i.e., dependent or conditioned by something happening) in any matter before or involving the Town.
An official or employee may not intentionally use the prestige of the office or public position for the private gain of that official or employee or the private gain of another.
Is doing business with or seeking to do business with the Town office, agency, board or commission with which the official or employee is affiliated;
Notwithstanding Subsection F(3) of this subsection, an official or employee may accept the following:
Gifts or tickets or free admission extended to an elected official to attend a charitable, cultural, or political event, if the purpose of this gift or admission is a courtesy or ceremony extended to the elected official's office;
A specific gift or class of gifts that the Board of Ethics exempts from the operation of this subsection upon a finding, in writing, that acceptance of the gift or class of gifts would not be detrimental to the impartial conduct of the business of the Town and that the gift is purely personal and private in nature;
Subsection F(4) does not apply to a gift:
The Board of Ethics may establish exemptions from the requirements of this section for providing descriptive literature, sole-source procurements, and written comments solicited by the procuring agency.
This section applies to all elected officials and candidates to be elected officials.
Except as provided in Subsection C of this section, an elected official or a candidate to be an elected official shall file the financial disclosure form, provided by the Board of Ethics, required under this section:
With the Board of Ethics.
Deadlines for filing financial disclosure forms.
An incumbent elected official shall file a financial disclosure form annually, no later than April 30 of each year for the preceding calendar year.
An individual who is appointed to fill a vacancy in an office for which a financial disclosure form is required and who has not already filed the form shall file a financial disclosure form for the preceding calendar year within 30 days after appointment.
An individual who, other than by reason of death, leaves an office for which a financial disclosure form is required shall file the complete form within 60 days after leaving the office.
Except for an official who has filed a financial disclosure form under another provision of this section for the reporting period, a candidate to be an elected official shall file a financial disclosure form each year beginning with the year in which the certificate of candidacy is filed through the year of the election.
A candidate to be an elected official shall file a financial disclosure form required under this section:
In the year the certificate of candidacy is filed, no later than the filing of the certificate of candidacy; or
If the year of the election if different from the year the certificate of candidacy was filed, on or before April 30; and
May file the required financial disclosure form under Subsection D(2)(a) of this section with the Town Clerk or Board of Ethics with the certificate of candidacy or prior to filing the certificate of candidacy; and
Shall file the financial disclosure form required under Subsection D(2)(b) and (c) of this section with the Board of Ethics.
If a candidate fails to file a financial disclosure form required by this section after written notice is provided by the Town Clerk or Board of Ethics, the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn the candidacy.
The Town Clerk and Board of Ethics may not accept any certificate of candidacy unless a financial disclosure form has been filed in proper form.
Within 10 days of the receipt of a financial disclosure form required under this section, the Town Clerk shall forward the statement to the Board of Ethics.
The Town Clerk's office shall maintain all completed financial disclosure forms filed under this section.
Financial disclosure form shall be made available during normal office hours for examination and copying by the public, subject to administrative procedures and reasonable fees, as established in the Town's Fee Schedule passed by the Board of Town Commissioners.
If an individual examines or copies a financial disclosure form, the Town Clerk shall record:
The name of the person whose financial disclosure form was examined or copied.
Upon request by the official or employee whose financial disclosure form was examined or copied, the Board of Ethics shall provide the official with a copy of the name and home address of the person who reviewed the official's financial disclosure form.
Retention requirements. The Town Clerk's office shall retain financial disclosure forms for four years from the date of receipt.
Contents of financial disclosure forms from incumbents and elected officials.
Interests in real property. A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in real property, wherever located. For each interest in real property, this schedule shall include:
The nature of the property and the location, by street address, mailing address or legal description, of the property.
Interest in corporations and partnerships. A financial disclosure form 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.
An individual may satisfy the requirement to report the amount of the interest held by reporting, instead of a dollar amount:
Interests in business entities doing business with the Town. A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in any business entity that does business with the Town, other than interests reported under Subsection F(2). For each interest reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include:
Gifts. A gift disclosure form filed annually under this section shall include a schedule of each gift in excess of $20 in value or a series of gifts totaling $100 or more received on or before April 30 of each year from or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any one person who does business with or is regulated by the Town. For each gift reported, the schedule shall include:
Employment with or interests in entities doing business with the Town. A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of all offices, directorships, and salaried employment by the individual or member of the immediate family of the individual held at any time during the reporting period with entities doing business with the Town. For each position reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include:
The name and address of the principal office of the entity;
Indebtedness to entities doing business with the Town. A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of all liabilities, excluding retail credit accounts, to persons doing business with the Town owed at any time during the reporting period:
For each liability reported under this subsection, the financial disclosure form shall include:
A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of the immediate family members of the individual employed by the Town in any capacity at any time during the reporting period.
A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of:
The name and address of each place of employment and of each business entity of which the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family was sole or partial owner and from which the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family received earned income, at any time during the reporting period.
A minor child's employment or business ownership need not be disclosed if the Town does not regulate, exercise authority over, or contract with the place of employment or business entity of the minor child.
A financial disclosure form filed under this section may also include a schedule of additional interests or information that the individual making the statement wishes to disclose.
This section applies to the following employees:
All deputy department heads.
All information technology personnel.
Armory Facilities Manager.
All planners.
Assistant Chief of Operations.
A financial disclosure form under this section shall be filed with the Board of Ethics under oath or affirmation.
On or before April 30 of each year during which an official or employee holds office, an official or employee shall file a gift disclosure form disclosing gifts, as defined in § 43-4, that were 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.
Submitting a conflict of interest form to the Board of Ethics, an official or employee shall disclose employment and interests that raise conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest in connection with a specific proposed action by the employee or official sufficiently in advance of the action to provide adequate disclosure to the public.
The Board of Ethics shall maintain all financial disclosure forms filed under this section as public records available for public inspection and copying as provided in § 43-5E, entitled "Public Records," and § 43-5E(5), entitled Retention Requirements, of this chapter.
For the purpose of § 43-5F of this chapter, the following interests are considered to be the interests of the individual completing the financial disclosure form:
The individual held a reversionary interest or was a beneficiary; or if a revocable trust, the individual was a settlor.
The Board of Ethics shall review the financial disclosure forms submitted under this section for compliance with the provisions of this section and shall notify an individual submitting the form of any omissions or deficiencies.
The Town Board of Ethics may take appropriate enforcement action to ensure compliance with this section.
A lobbyist shall file a lobbying registration form with the Board of Ethics on or before the later of January 15 of the calendar year or within five days after first performing an act that requires registration in the calendar year with the Board of Ethics if the person:
Personally appears before a Town official or employee with the intent to influence that person in the performance of the official duties of the official or employee; and
In connection with the intent to influence, expends or reasonably expects to expend in a given calendar year in excess of $100 on food, entertainment, or other gifts for officials or employees of the Town.
The lobbying registration form covers a defined registration period, not to exceed one calendar year, and shall identify:
The subject matter on which the registrant proposes to make appearances specified in this section.
Within 30 days after the end of any calendar year during which a person was registered under this section, the person shall file a written report with the Board of Ethics disclosing:
The value, date, and nature of any food, entertainment or other gift provided to a Town official or employee; and
The Board of Ethics shall maintain the registrations and reports filed under this section as public records available for public inspection and copying at the Town Clerk's office for four years after receipt by the Board of Ethics.
The Board of Ethics may grant exemptions and modifications to the provisions of §§ 43-4 and 43-6 of this chapter to employees and to appointed members of the Town Board and commissions when the Board of Ethics finds that an exemption or modification would not be contrary to the purposes of this chapter and the application of this chapter would:
The Board of Ethics may issue a cease-and-desist order against any person found to be in violation of this chapter.
Upon a finding of a violation of any provision of this chapter, the Board of Ethics may:
If the Board of Ethics finds that a respondent has violated § 43-7 of this chapter, the Board of Ethics may:
Require a respondent who is a registered lobbyist to file any additional reports or information that reasonably related to the information that is required under § 43-7 of this chapter;
Suspend the registration of an individual registered lobbyist if the Board of Ethics finds that the lobbyist has knowingly and willfully violated § 43-7 of this chapter or has been convicted of a criminal offense arising from lobbying activities.
Upon request of the Board of Ethics, the Town Attorney may file a petition for injunctive or other relief in the Circuit Court of Harford County, or in any other court having proper venue, for the purpose of requiring compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Void an official action taken by an official or employee with a conflict of interest prohibited by this chapter when the action arises from or concerns the subject matter of the conflict and if the legal action is brought within 90 days of the occurrence of the official action, if the court deems voiding the action to be in the best interest of the public.
The court may not void any official action appropriating public funds, levying taxes, or providing for the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of public obligations.
In addition to any other enforcement provisions in this chapter, a person who the Board of Ethics or a court finds has violated this chapter:
May be suspended from receiving payment of salary or other compensation pending full compliance with the terms of an order of the Board of Ethics or a court.
The Town official or employee found to have violated this chapter is subject to disciplinary or other appropriate personnel action, including removal from office, disciplinary action, suspension of salary, or other sanction.
Violation of § 43-7 of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor.
Fines of § 43-5, 43-6, or 43-7 shall be approved by a resolution that is passed by the Board of Town Commissioners.
A finding of a violation of this chapter by the Board of Ethics is public information.