State Law Prompts City to Change Ethics Code

A state law, largely stemming from corruption within the county, will compel Greenbelt to update its public ethics code by Oct. 1.

Passed last year by the Maryland General Assembly, Senate Bill 315 (SB 315) requires that Maryland counties and municipalities revise their financial disclosure, lobbying and conflict-of-interest provisions to either meet or exceed the state’s standards.

The financial disclosure forms required by the bill were a hot topic of discussion at Wednesday’s council meeting. Not only the mayor and council, but other city officials including department heads and deputies are required to comply. The mayor and council's forms are slightly longer and require more detail.

The disclosures, to be filed by April 30 each year, include a variety of questions covering property assets, stock holdings, debts, business and family relationships to the government, and any gifts totaling $20 or more received during the year.

“When you look at these forms they’re pretty personal,” said Greenbelt city solicitor Robert Manzi, calling them the product of a “sudden, knee-jerk reaction” among lawmakers in Annapolis. The state “didn’t think really hard” about how the local level will be impacted by laws tailored to officials at the state level, added Manzi.

Council member Edward Putens agreed, saying, “I just see us having conflicts here.”

Talk of including information about any “significant other” within the disclosure forms tied up the discussion, with the council unable to agree on whether that requirement should be added.

“I don’t agree with that significant other business,” said Putens, later quipping: “A significant other one day could be a significant nothing the next.”

Council member Leta Mach agreed, saying it further “complicates the issue.”

Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan diverged, saying it “can be important” and asked that Manzi take a stab at defining the term “significant other” for possible inclusion on the council’s disclosure forms.

The provisions, which will be based largely on an approved ordinance Manzi already drafted for Laurel, still allow local officials to receive gifts. However, Manzi said, those over $20 must be included on the annual financial disclosures. Meals and beverages are also permitted, though the person paying for those items must be present when they are consumed.

The new law will also impact lobbyists, who will need to register annually at $100 a pop. “People say Greenbelt doesn’t have lobbyists — well it does,” said Manzi, pointing out that lawyers and business owners who speak before the council were examples.

Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan asked how advocacy organizations were perceived.

“Personally, I think they’re lobbyists,” responded Manzi, indicating that the council will need to adopt regulations clearly outlining who is and isn’t a lobbyist.

Exceptions to this would include 501(c)(3) organizations, said Manzi, because these groups are technically not supposed to lobby.

“I know a lot that do,” said Council member Rodney Roberts.

Me too, said Manzi, adding that he would be prepared to “alert” the council whenever information warps into advocacy.

It’s definitely going to be a bit “hit and miss” as we get used to the changes, said Manzi.

A new ethics commission may also be formed under the changes, rather than making the Greenbelt Board of Elections the code enforcers. “I’d recommend at this point that we look to a separate commission,” said Pam Gregory, BOE chair. “I see it as a cleaner route,” she said, adding that there are “certainly a number of residents who would represent us well.”

Councilwoman Mach voiced a request to Manzi that the city council not only confirm but be party to the new commission’s appointment process, rather than giving the mayor sole authority over choosing the commission's members.