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Commissioners hold public hearings on ethics ordinance update and proposed pay increase for future board
Summary
Kent County held public hearings on an ethics ordinance amendment to mirror recent state changes and on a proposed increase to commissioners' compensation that would take effect for the next elected board; both records were left open through Aug. 8 for written comments.
Kent County opened public hearings on two legislative matters: CHR 5-20-25, a proposed repeal-and-reenactment of Chapter 29 (Ethics) to mirror recent changes in Maryland state law, and CHR 6-20-25, an amendment to Chapter 3 (Administration of Government) to change the commissioners' compensation for the next elected board.
On the ethics ordinance, staff and the county attorney said the county update mirrors state changes and had been reviewed and approved by the State Ethics Commission; staff asked that the commission's approval letter dated Jan. 16, 2025 be made part of the public record. The ordinance text clarifies conflicts-of-interest definitions, financial-disclosure requirements and new lobbying/gifts restrictions consistent with the state language. The commissioners closed the public hearing at the meeting and left the record open until close of business on Aug. 8, 2025 so that the board can take final legislative action at the next legislative day.
On commissioner compensation, staff said the proposed code amendment would increase commissioners' annual pay from $20,000 to $30,000; the proposed increase would not be effective for the sitting board but would take effect for the next term beginning Dec. 1, 2026 if adopted. Commissioners were provided comparative data from neighboring jurisdictions; the board closed the public hearing and similarly left the record open through Aug. 8, 2025 for additional written comment.
No votes to adopt either ordinance were taken at this meeting; both matters were presented for public hearing with the record to remain open until the specified closing date.
Provenance: Public-notice language, staff summary and the board's motions to close the public hearings and keep the record open are recorded in the meeting transcript.
