Ethics Commission

FILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT

Tracey Paliath serves as the Executive Director of the Baltimore County Ethics Commission, the first person to hold the position since the Ethics Office was separated from the Baltimore County Office of the Inspector General following the issuance of a Blue Ribbon Commission report that recommended that this action.

FILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT 

PUBLIC ETHICS LAW SUMMARY

Public Ethics Laws promote the public’s trust in government and ensure the impartiality of public employees in the exercise of their duties and responsibilities. Read a summary of the public ethics law  contained in Article 7 of the Baltimore County Code, which applies to all County officials, employees, members of certain boards and commissions, and lobbyists.

The Commission also gives ethics advice, issues advisory opinions, and provides ethics and lobbyist training. View Section 3-3-10 of the Baltimore County Code regarding the Ethics Commission.

NEWS

View updates, news and media from the Ethics Commission.

• View a 2024 calendar year list of entities doing business with the County, provided pursuant to Article 7-1-101(f). To ensure compliance with disclosure requirements and other ethics laws, if you have a question about an entity whose name does not appear on the list, contact the Ethics Commission.
• Review the details of the financial and in-kind COVID-19 donations received by the County.

MEMBERS

MEETINGS

The Commission is required to meet regularly, at least 10 times each year, and when required by the chairman or a majority of the members of the Commission (Section 3-3-1004, Baltimore County Code, 2015). 

When the Commission is discussing certain matters, including, but not limited to, review of financial disclosure statements, an Advisory Opinion or a Complaint, it is engaging in an “administrative function,” which is defined under the state Open Meetings Act as “the administration of ... a law of a political subdivision of the state.” Section 3-101(b) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (GP). The Open Meetings Act “does not apply to … a public body when it is carrying out … an administrative function.” GP Section 3-103(a)(1)(i). The Commission may recess and close an open session when it engages in an administrative function.

Although a new member's term by Code begins on July 1, per Baltimore County Code § 3-3-103(b)(1), "At the end of a term, an elected or appointed member, director, or trustee of a board, commission, committee, panel or foundation established under this title continues to serve until a successor is appointed or elected and qualifies."

Please note that appointed members to certain boards or commissions are required to file an annual disclosure statement. This requirement is mandated by statute.

DECISIONS AND OPINIONS

The Commission has the authority to issue decisions and advisory opinions on the application of the Ethics Code to circumstances described in a written request.