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Staff recommends certification of Dorchester County ethics ordinance; minor technical reference noted
Summary
Staff reported that the Dorchester County Public Ethics Ordinance remains at least as stringent as state law and recommended the commission certify compliance; staff noted a minor technical reference issue that could be corrected by amendment.
Staff told the commission that the county ordinance remains at least as stringent as the state law and recommended the required annual certification.
"I checked today, the law has not changed and it remains, at least as stringent as the state law requires in terms of conflicts of interest and financial disclosures," the staff member said, adding that there are no substantive changes that would require local action. He also noted "there's a technical flaw in the county ordinance, but it's a very minor thing" and suggested the commission could correct that reference by ordinance amendment when appropriate.
Staff said it would prepare the formal certification and a report to the county council and to the state ethics office documenting the number of meetings, agendas, minutes and attendance for the past year. The staff member recommended the commission make the certification and explained that the chairman must sign the form for submission.
The commission took the certification up as part of its administrative agenda and directed staff to complete the report for submission; staff indicated no changes to county practice would be required by pending state law changes expected to take effect Oct. 1.
