The Prince George’s County Ethics Board, which failed to meet or investigate a single complaint last year, is now required to convene at least twice a year under a new state law. The bill signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley also requires the five-member Board of Ethics to meet individually with every elected official yearly as well as designate an executive director to run its day-to-day operations.
Anne C. Magner, a lawyer in the County Attorney’s Office who assists the all-volunteer panel, told the County Council in February that no complaints were filed in 2010 against any officials.
The FBI ramped up a widespread corruption probe into the county’s elected officials and employees last year, arresting in November then-County Executive Jack Johnson and his wife, Leslie, who is now a county councilwoman.
The board is supposed to investigate ethics complaints lodged against employees and officials. Magner said the board has no budget, the members are not paid and there is no full-time staff. In fact, she said she cannot remember the board ever investigating a county official.
Scott Peterson, a spokesman for County Executive Rushern Baker, said the county executive is “examining the impact” of laws passed in Annapolis and will revise the county’s fiscal 2012 budget next month to reflect any changes.
“With regard to the ethics bill impact, we are considering different funding options to ensure that the duties and responsibilities contained in the law are fully implemented,” he said.
The changes to the county board come as a task force convened by Baker is reviewing the county’s existing oversight structure and making recommendations for whether an inspector general or other oversight agency should be created. A recommendation is expected from the task force this spring.
The new law also prohibits the county from issuing credit cards to elected officials, including members of the school board.
Land developers and county officials in Prince George’s County are also restricted under new ethics laws. The legislation limits campaign contributions by developers to county officials through slates. It also restricts the participation of council members in approving development projects if they took money from the developer.
