The Frederick County Ethics Commission is working to revise its standard ethics procedures and will accept comments and suggestions via email through July 27, 2016.

The following items are among the proposed changes: to establish standard procedures for filing ethics complaints; adopting a process for investigating complaints, including outlining appropriate behavior for commission members during this process; adding provisions for the issuance and enforcement of subpoenas; developing procedures for reconsidering or revising advisory opinions; and requiring annual training in ethics law for all public officials and their employees.

The commission will vote on the revised procedures on August 10.

The Frederick County, MD Council has passed a new ordinance regarding county contracts and the size of the Frederick County Ethics Commission. The ordinance prohibits elected officials and certain family members for securing county government contracts.

Additionally, the ordinance increases the size of the Ethics Commission from five to seven members.

Frederick County, Maryland County Council President Bud Otis has introduced legislation to give the County Ethics Commission subpoena powers and increase the size of the commission from five to seven members. The ethics bill, which Otis submitted on September 15, includes making a violation of the lobbying rules or the financial disclosure laws a misdemeanor. The council will hear public comments on the proposals at a future meeting and then vote at a subsequent hearing, according to the Frederick News-Post.

Previously, the state rejected a less stringent bill exempting county employees and requiring commissioners to wait just one year before accepting employment with a company they did business with while in office.

Commissioners indicated the only reason for the controversial change was the state’s mandate to pass the ethics ordinance. Changes to the county gift law prohibit commissioners from accepting tickets or free admission to sporting events and require free meals to be consumed in the presence of the donor.

The law now goes back to the State Ethics Commission for its approval.

The Frederick County Board of Commissioners voted to have a public hearing for a new ethics ordinance which, among other things, would no longer require lobbyists to disclose their annual income.

Based on one of the state’s recommended models for local ethics laws for counties and cities, the ordinance drew concerns by commissioners that the requirements for lobbyists could be weaker than those currently in place. As an example, Frederick County’s requirements for registration and reporting for grassroots lobbying are not included in the proposed ordinance, which would supersede the current law.

The public hearing has been scheduled for September 6.