Commissioners introduce update to Allegany County public ethics code; public hearing set in two weeks

Attorney Beaman told the Allegany County Commissioners the meeting marked the introduction of a proposed update to the county's public ethics laws to align with two recent state changes. "This is the update to our public ethics laws to comply with the last 2 updates by the state of Maryland," Beaman said. He said Garrett County assisted with drafting the changes and that the county's clerk will publish the bill and make it available online.

Beaman told commissioners the item tonight was introductory only; a public hearing is scheduled at the next business meeting, which is also a legislative day, and the commission will have an opportunity to vote following that hearing. No vote or other action was taken on the ordinance tonight.

During public comment and later discussion, commenters raised questions about annual financial disclosure filings for elected officials and certain county employees; Beaman said proposed code changes include a specific list of employees required to file disclosures and that staff will send annual reminders in January to those filers. The county attorney cited the county code provisions referenced in the packet, including the code section where the employee list appears.