Calvert County closes record on public hearing to implement Maryland's House Bill 834 into local ethics code

The Board of County Commissioners conducted a public hearing on July 15 to consider amendments to Chapter 41 (Ethics) of the Calvert County Code that would implement provisions of Maryland's recently enacted law commonly referred to as House Bill 834 (Laws of Maryland 2024). The staff liaison read the background and recommended ordinance language and noted the Ethics Commission's recommendation to conform the county code with state law requirements on public disclosure of recommendations to expel a commissioner.

Susan Dessert, a Hunting Town resident speaking as a representative of a former member of Calvert Citizens United, urged the board to adopt the changes without delay. "My hope is that moving forward with the enactment of House Bill 834 into the ethics code will decrease the chances of our elected officials from engaging in the unethical behavior that brought us here," she said, noting the process began in 2019 and asking the board to complete the work.

After public testimony, a motion was made and seconded to close the record on the hearing; the motion carried by voice vote. Staff said they will return no sooner than 10 days to request Board of County Commissioners action to amend Chapter 41, and the staff memo stated there was no fiscal impact for the ordinance as drafted.