Board of Ethics

History

The City Ethics Board was created by a 1963 Charter Amendment to enforce certain new prohibitions against conflicts of interest. Financial disclosure requirements were added to the law in 1974.

In 1981, the State enacted a new, comprehensive Maryland Public Ethics Law; among other things, the new State law mandated each local jurisdiction to adopt its own, local ethics law that would be "similar" or, in some instances, "substantially similar" to the State's. Accordingly, in 1982 and 1985, the City Charter and the City Code were revised and expanded to conform to that State law.

More recently, in 2004, the City Ethics Law was again revised, expanded, and clarified by Ordinance 04-795 {"Ethics - 'Raising the Bar'"}. This new law, which reflects many "lessons learned" over the preceding two decades, became effective January 1, 2005.

Purpose and Goals

The City Ethics Law is intended "[t]o guard against improper influence or even the appearance of improper influence, and to ensure public trust in the government". To that end, the Ethics Law:

  • sets ethical standards on the conduct of all City officials and employees as necessary or appropriate to prevent a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict,
  • requires City officials and high-level employees, within 6 months of appointment, to undergo formal training in the requisites of the Ethics Law and sign and to submit a Conflicts Affidavit,
  • requires City officials and specified employees to file annual financial disclosure statements, open to public inspection, and
  • requires legislative- and executive-branch lobbyists to file registration statements and periodic activity reports, open to public inspection.

Board Functions

Among other duties, the Ethics Board:

  • issues advisory opinions on questions relating to the Ethics Law,
  • under appropriate circumstances, grants exemptions from certain provisions of the Ethics Law,
  • investigates alleged violations of the Ethics Law, and
  • generally enforces compliance with the Ethics Law.

Board Membership

The Ethics Board comprises 5 unsalaried members, each of whom must be "of known personal integrity" and must possess "recognized knowledge and interest in government and civics". Of these:

  • 3 are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council,
  • 1 is a designee of the Mayor, and
  • 1 is a designee of the City Solicitor.

The Board's current members are:

  • Dana Petersen Moore
  • Paul Fenn
  • Donald Huskey (Solicitor's Designee)

Staff

The Ethics Board is staffed and supported by:

Avery Aisenstark, Director
Ari Friedman, Assistant to the Director
Anita Evans, Registrar

Fri. December 5, 2008