Just wanted to share something after seeing the front page of the paper above the fold today - Gardner: Youngs relationship exposes flawed ethics laws. Jan is quoted in the paper today: It does certainly point out a flaw in our law that needs to be fixed, Gardner said. Gardner said shed like to add a professional code of conduct to the countys ethics laws. Six years ago County Commissioner Lennie Thompson proposed legislation regarding this very issue. Scroll to page 74 for the complete email submission by Thompson but for a quick summary, scroll to page 2 part B and note If this proposal is enacted into law then local governments would be required to add similar provisions to the conflict of interest sections in the local public ethics laws. frederickcountymd.gov/documents/264/465/525/9%209%2008%202009%20legislative%20considerations.PDF If you wish to view the meeting, it took place on September 9,2008 -- the link to the entire meeting is here: frederick.granicus/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=865 Now if you scroll to the 02:30 time mark on the meeting, you will hear County Commissioner Kai Hagen respond to Thompson saying that his proposal had complicated political overtones since Lennie had gone on record noting an interest in running for the state office in his district. Lennie denied the suggestion Kai made - you all can watch that for yourself. What I really want to share is the 2 minutes worth of comments from County Commissioners David Gray, Kai Hagen and Jan Gardner -- note in particular the way the 3 of them seem to laugh it all off and a vote is taken - 4 to 1 with Lennie being the only commissioner wanting to advance his proposed legislation. Do not try to view this trimmed portion on your phone - it does not seem to ever work. View from your computer: frederick.granicus/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=865&view_id=5&embed=1&player_width=640&player_height=480&entrytime=9130&stoptime=9288&auto_start=0 All that to say, what seemed to bring laughter in the eyes of Jan Gardner six years ago, now seems to be (IMHO) an issue with (in the words of Kai Hagen) complicated political overtones.... as in, instead of responding to some valid concerns regarding demotion of merit county staff that were noted in Blaine Youngs public comment and followed by just as valid concerns from Council Members Billy Shreve Kirby Delauter and Anthony Chmelik -- it appears County Executive Jan Gardner wants turn this into an ethics debate on behavior and not discuss anything she might have done wrong as a sitting County Executive. The way I see it, she had her chance in 2008 - remember this part of Lennies proposal: If this proposal is enacted into law then local governments would be required to add similar provisions to the conflict of interest sections in the local public ethics laws. I am doing my best to stay the heck out of local politics - got other things on the burner. BUT, my fine memory for Jans hypocrisy in action prevents me from keeping quiet. So I just thought Id put it out there for all you good people to mull over. Have a nice day! :)
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:29:28 +0000
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