Baltimore County Ethics Commission
Historic Courthouse, Room 219
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-887-5904
Fax: 410-296-0931
Email: ethicscommission@baltimorecountymd.gov
The Ethics Commission is tasked with administering the Public Ethics Laws which promote public’s trust in government and ensuring the impartiality of public employees in the exercise of their duties and responsibilities. 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.
COVID-19 Donations
Review the details for the financial (PDF) and in-kind (PDF) COVID-19 donations received by the County. Read Opinion 20-01 (PDF), which allows public officials to solicit donations for COVID-19.
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). Except as otherwise noted, the Commission meets the first Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The Commission does not usually meet in July and December.
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.
2020
Date | Time | Location | Meeting Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
February 4 | 4:30 p.m. | Historic Courthouse, Room 118, Towson, Maryland | |
March 3 | 4:30 p.m. | Historic Courthouse, Room 118, Towson, Maryland | |
March 30 | 9 a.m. | Conference call |
|
May 5 | 1 p.m. | Virtual |
|
May 29 | 10 a.m. | Virtual |
|
August 4 | 10 a.m. | Virtual |
|
October 6 | 10 a.m. | Virtual |
|
October 19 | 9:30 a.m. | Virtual |
|
2019
Date | Meeting Documents |
|---|---|
February 5 | |
March 5 |
|
April 2 | Cancelled. |
May 7 |
|
June 4 | Cancelled. |
August 6, | |
September 3 |
|
October 1 | Cancelled |
November 5 |
|
December 3 |
Members
On recommendation of the Ethics Commission, the County Executive appoints an Executive Director for the Commission. The Executive Director of the Commission must meet the eligibility requirements for members of the Commission. (§ 3-3-1004(d), Baltimore County Code, 2015) The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission is Kelly Madigan.
The Ethics Commission consists of five members appointed by the County Executive. Of the five members, two must be members of a political party to which the County Executive does not belong and two must be lawyers licensed to practice law in this state. A Commission member must be a resident of the county, may not be an elected or appointed officer of or be a candidate for election to federal, state, or local office or as an official of a political party and may not be an employee of the state or a local government. (§ 3-3-1002, Baltimore County Code, 2015) Members may serve up to two, three-year terms. Apply for a vacancy online.
Name | Date Appointed | Current Term Expires | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|---|
Cindy L. Leppert, Esquire | 03/29/2019 | 06/30/2023 | County Executive |
J. Michael Lawlor | 10/13/2016 | 06/30/2021 | County Executive |
Laura Ray | 09/1/2020 | 06/30/2022 | County Executive |
Lisa Tancredi, Esquire | 09/09/2020 | 06/30/2023 | County Executive |
Vacant | County Executive |
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."
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. The links on this page are PDFs that open in a new window.
- August 20, 2020—Reprimand Relating to Planning Board Member
The public may review the following versions of opinions that have been redacted to ensure the confidentiality of the parties to the opinion. To view past opinions not featured here, contact the Office of the Inspector General.