Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants Ethics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Debate over small-business grants prompts ethics questions for Princess Anne commissioners
Summary
Discussion of proposed small-business and minority grant programs prompted accusations that a commissioner benefited from a prior grant round and led commissioners to request advisory input from the town ethics commission before proceeding.
At the Sept. 16 work session, commissioners revisited two business-assistance proposals: a general small-business grant (about $2,500 each for up to 20 businesses) and a minority-business grant (proposed at $5,000 each for up to 20 businesses). Commissioners discussed whether the two programs should be combined or remain separate and reviewed draft eligibility rules (e.g., in-town registration and employee caps).
The discussion turned to ethics when one commissioner raised that a prior round of business-assistance funds had benefited a commissioner. That allegation prompted back-and-forth: the commissioner accused of benefiting said they had recused themselves from the earlier decision and that their application followed the same process as other businesses. Commissioners agreed an advisory opinion from the ethics commission was appropriate and said the town should prioritize appointing members to that body to issue guidance.
Policy details discussed included restricting eligibility to businesses registered in Somerset County and within town corporate limits prior to Aug. 1, 2021; limiting applicants to businesses with no more than 10 employees; and granting $2,500 per eligible business with $5,000 provided to eligible minority-owned businesses. Commissioners discussed the possibility of requiring recusal and the ethics commission’s authority to recommend repayment if a prior award violated rules.
No grant resolutions were adopted at the work session; commissioners asked staff to circulate the eligibility templates and said they would seek an advisory opinion from the ethics commission before taking formal action.
