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Does your town have an ethics committee? Many do. Some don't.

Our town does.

But what is an ethics committee? Here's a description from the State of Maryland: (Note, much of this is directed to larger jurisdictions, but the basic principles apply to all.)

In Maryland, the duty of ethics committees within local government is to uphold transparency, prevent conflicts of interest, and maintain public trust. Let’s delve into some key aspects:

1. Financial Disclosure:
   • Government officials and employees are required to disclose their financial affairs. This ensures that financial interests are not hidden from the public view ¹².
   • The goal is to provide access to documents that demonstrate transparency and minimize conflicts of interest.
2. Conflicts of Interest:
   • Ethics committees address conflicts of interest among officials.
   • When a legislator has a presumed conflict, they must file a “disclaimer statement” with the Ethics Committee if they wish to participate in legislative action related to the conflict ¹.
   • The committees set minimum standards for conduct in State and local business.
3. Prohibited Employment and Compensation:
   • The law restricts certain employment scenarios:
     • Representation before government agencies
     • Procurement or the adoption of regulations
     • Employment by governmental entities ¹.
4. Ethics Counsel:
   • The Ethics Counsel provides advice (written or oral) on any aspect of the Ethics Law.
   • They can assist members in preparing formal opinions requested from the Joint Ethics Committee ³.
5. Local Ethics Laws:
   • Each county and municipal corporation in Maryland must enact provisions governing the public ethics of local officials. These provisions relate to:
     • Conflicts of interest
     • Financial disclosure
     • Lobbying ⁴.

Again, some of the above doesn't apply as much to smaller towns, but you can get an idea of the issues Ethics Committees deal with.

In summary, Maryland’s ethics committees play a crucial role in maintaining integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct within local government.

Here is a link to the ethics committee in Chestertown, Maryland.

Ethics Commission - Town of Chestertown

Here is Cambridge, Maryland's ethics committee information:

Ethics Commission | Cambridge, MD (choosecambridge.com)

Easton, Maryland Ethics Commission:

Ethics Commission | Easton, MD (eastonmd.gov)

Here is a link to all of the commissions in the town of Oxford, Maryland including the Ethics Committee.

Commissions/Boards/Departments | Town Of Oxford, Maryland (oxfordmd.net)

Here is the description of the duties of the Ethics Committee as stated in the Oxford Code:

There shall be an Ethics Commission for the Town of Oxford, which shall be composed
of three members appointed by the Commissioners. The Ethics Commission shall be advised by
the Town Attorney and shall have the following responsibilities:
A. To devise, receive and maintain all forms generated by this Chapter;
B. To provide published advisory opinions to persons subject to this Chapter as to
the applicability of the provisions of this Chapter to them;
C. To process and make determinations as to complaints filed by any person alleging
violations of this Chapter; and
D. To conduct a public information program regarding the purposes and application
of this Chapter.*

This is the oath people take when they joint any committee/commission in Oxford, including the Ethics Committees.

“I, …………………………, do swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support
the Constitution of the United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State
of Maryland, and support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill
and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of
……………………….., according to the Constitution and Laws of this State.”

People serving on an ethics committee have to decide some weighty issues. Does a government official or an employee have a conflict of interest? Has an employee or elected official violated the code and laws of the town? Is the government official unbiased and serving ALL of the citizens of the town?

In some towns, ethics committees have been used for strictly political purposes. They target some officials/employees unfairly while ignoring the misdeeds or conflicts of interest of others. In others, they serve as the guiderails for public officers, making sure they serve in their posts honestly.

Ethics committees don't just decide whether a public official has acted ethically, they help them understand the parameters of what is ethical and what is not. They serve an educational purpose as they work with lawyers to establish norms. Therefore, members need to educate themselves on what is and what isn't ethical and model that behavior. They also need to understand the responsibility of being on this committee.

So, what's the point of this article?

If you don't know which committees your town has and in particular those committees that can hold your public officials and employees accountable, you may let your elected and hired officials slide on possible violations of ethics. Believe me, there are some who will take advantage.

Now you have no excuse.

Go find out who your ethics committee is and how they operate!

REMEMBER: THESE COMMITTEES OPERATE AT THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL AS WELL