Chapter 54 Ethics, Code Of

54-1 Applicability

54-2 Statement Of Purpose And Policy

54-3 Definitions

54-4 Ethics Commission

54-5 Conflicts Of Interest

54-6 Financial Disclosure: Local Elected Officials And Candidates To Be Local Elected Officials

54-7 Financial Disclosure: Employees And Members Of All Boards And Commissions

54-8 Lobbying

54-9 Exemptions And Modifications

54-10 Enforcement

54-1 Applicability

The provisions of this chapter apply to the following Town of Centreville officials and employees: All Town of Centreville elected officials; Employees; and Members of all boards and commissions of the Town. Any further reference to Town officials and employees in this chapter shall apply to the above-mentioned individuals.

54-2 Statement Of Purpose And Policy The Town

Council of Centreville, recognizing that our system of representative government is dependent in part upon the people maintaining the highest trust in their public officials and employees, finds and declares that the people have a right to be assured that the impartiality and independent judgment of public officials and employees will be maintained. It is evident that this confidence and trust is eroded when the conduct of the Town Council of Centreville's business is subject to improper influence and even the appearance of improper influence. For the purpose of guarding against improper influence, the Town Council of Centreville enacts this Public Ethics Ordinance to require the Town of Centreville elected officials, officials, employees, and individuals appointed to boards and commissions to disclose their financial affairs and to set minimum standards for the conduct of local government business. It is the intention of the Town Council of Centreville that this chapter, except its provisions for criminal sanctions, be liberally construed to accomplish this purpose.

HISTORY Amended by Ord. 14-2025 on 12/24/2025

54-3 Definitions

In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated: BUSINESS ENTITY. A corporation, general or limited partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, unincorporated association or firm, institution, trust, foundation, or other organization, whether or not operated for profit. "Business entity" does not include a governmental entity. COMMISSION. The Centreville Ethics Commission established under § 54-3A of this chapter. COMPENSATION. Any money or thing of value, regardless of form, received or to be received by any individual covered by this chapter from an employer for service rendered. For the purposes of § 54-8 of this chapter, if lobbying is only a portion of a person's employment, "compensation" means a prorated amount based on the time devoted to lobbying compared to the time devoted to other employment duties.

54-4 Ethics Commission

Establishment, membership; terms. There is a Town of Centreville Ethics Commission that consists of three members appointed by the Town Council of Centreville. All members of the Ethics Commission must be municipal residents living within the corporate limits of the Town for a minimum of 180 days prior to their appointment. If a member of the Ethics Commission ceases to be a municipal resident living within the corporate limits of the Town of Centreville, they shall be considered to have resigned.

54-5 Conflicts Of Interest

In this section, "qualified relative" means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. All Town of Centreville elected officials, officials appointed to Town of Centreville boards and commissions, and employees are subject to this section.

54-6 Financial Disclosure: Local Elected Officials And Candidates To Be Local Elected Officials This section shall apply to all local elected officials and candidates to be local elected officials. Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, a local elected official or a candidate to be a local elected official shall file the financial disclosure statement required under this section on a form provided by the Commission, under oath or affirmation, and with the Commission. Deadlines for filing statements. An incumbent local elected official shall file a financial disclosure statement annually no later than April 30 of each year for the preceding calendar year.

An individual who is appointed to fill a vacancy in an office for which a financial disclosure statement is required and who has not already filed a financial disclosure statement shall file a statement for the preceding calendar year within 30 days after appointment. An individual who, other than by reason of death, leaves an office for which a statement is required shall file a statement within 60 days after leaving the office. The statement shall cover the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the individual left office, unless a statement covering that year has already been filed by the individual, and the portion of the current calendar year during which the individual held the office. Candidates to be local elected officials.

Except an official who has filed a financial disclosure statement under another provision of this section for the reporting period, a candidate to be an elected local official shall file a financial disclosure statement each year beginning with the year in which the certificate of candidacy is filed through the year of the election. A candidate to be an elected local official shall file a statement required under this section: in the year the certificate of candidacy is filed, with the Town of Centreville Clerk or Board of Elections with the certificate of candidacy or with the Commission prior to filing the certificate of candidacy and no later than the filing of the certificate of candidacy; in the year of the election, with the Commission on or before 4:00 p.m. by the filing deadline for elections; and in all other years that a statement is required, with the Commission on or before April 30. [Amended 11-2-2017 by Ord. No. 06-2017] [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] A candidate to be an elected official shall file the state required §54-6.D.1 and 2 of this chapter with the Town Clerk or Board of Supervisors of Elections with the certificate of candidacy or with the Commission prior to filing the certificate of candidacy. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] If a statement required to be filed by a candidate is overdue and not filed within 8 days after written notice of the failure to file is provided by the Town Clerk or Board of Supervisors of Elections, the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn the candidacy. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] The Town of Centreville Clerk or Board of Supervisors of Elections may not accept any certificate of candidacy unless a statement has been filed in proper form. Within 30 days of the receipt of a statement required under this section, the Town of Centreville Clerk or Board of Supervisors of Elections shall forward the statement to the Commission or the office designated by the Commission. Public record.

The Commission or office designated by the Commission shall maintain all financial disclosure statements filed under this section. Financial disclosure statements shall be made available during normal office hours for examination and copying by the public, subject to reasonable fees and administrative procedures established by the Commission. If an individual examines or copies a financial disclosure statement, the Commission or the office designated by the Commission shall record the name and home address of the individual reviewing or copying the statement and the name of the person whose financial disclosure statement was examined or copied. Upon request by the official or employee whose financial disclosure statement was examined or copied, the Commission or the office designated by the Commission shall provide the official with a copy of the name and home address of the person who reviewed the official's financial disclosure statement.

For statements filed after January 1, 2029, the Commission or the office designated by the Commission may not provide public access to an individual's home address that the individual has designated as the individual's home address. The Commission or office designated by the Commission shall not provide public access to information related to consideration received from: The University of Maryland Medical System; a government entity of the State or a local government in the State; or a quasi-governmental entity of the State or local government in the State. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] Retention requirements. The Commission or the office designated by the Commission shall retain financial disclosure statements for four years from the date of receipt. An individual who is required to disclose the name of a business under this section shall disclose any other names that the business is trading as or doing business as. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] Contents of statement.

Interests in real property. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in real property, wherever located, and for each interest in real property, the schedule shall include: The nature of the property and the location, by street address, mailing address, or legal description, of the property; The nature and extent of the interest held, including any conditions and encumbrances on the interest; The date when, the manner in which, and the identity of the person from whom the interest was acquired; The nature and amount of the consideration given in exchange for the interest or, if acquired other than by purchase, the fair market value of the interest at the time acquired; If any interest was transferred, in whole or in part, at any time during the reporting period, a description of the interest transferred, the nature and amount of the consideration received for the interest, and the identity of the person to whom the interest was transferred; and The identity of any other person with an interest in the property. Interests in corporations and partnerships. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in any corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability corporation, regardless of whether the corporation or partnership does business with the Town of Centreville; and for each interest reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include: The name and address of the principal office of the corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability corporation.

The nature and amount of the interest held, including any conditions and encumbrances on the interest. An individual may satisfy the requirement to report the amount of the interest held by reporting, instead of a dollar amount: for an equity interest in a corporation, the number of shares held and, unless the corporation's stock is publicly traded, the percentage of equity interest held; or for an equity interest in a partnership, the percentage of equity interest held. With respect to any interest transferred, in whole or in part, at any time during the reporting period, a description of the interest transferred, the nature and amount of the consideration received for the interest and, if known, the identity of the person to whom the interest was transferred. With respect to any interest acquired during the reporting period, the date when, the manner in which, and the identity of the person from whom the interest was acquired, and the nature and the amount of the consideration given in exchange for the interest or, if acquired other than by purchase, the fair market value of the interest at the time acquired.

Interests in business entities doing business with the Town of Centreville. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in any business entity that does business with the Town of Centreville, other than interests reported under Subsection G(2) of this section; and for each interest reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include: The name and address of the principal office of the business entity; The nature and amount of the interest held, including any conditions to and encumbrances on the interest; With respect to any interest transferred, in whole or in part, at any time during the reporting period, a description of the interest transferred, the nature and amount of the consideration received in exchange for the interest and, if known, the identity of the person to whom the interest was transferred; and With respect to any interest acquired during the reporting period, the date when, the manner in which, and the identity of the person from whom the interest was acquired, and the nature and the amount of the consideration given in exchange for the interest or, if acquired other than by purchase, the fair market value of the interest at the time acquired. Gifts. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of each gift in excess of $20 in value or series of gifts totaling $100 or more received during the reporting period from or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any one person who does business with or is regulated by the Town of Centreville, or from an association, or any entity acting on behalf of an association that is engaged in representing municipal corporations; and for each gift reported, the schedule shall include a description of the nature and value of the gift and the identity of the person from whom, or on behalf of whom, directly or indirectly, the gift was received. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] Employment with or interests in entities doing business with the Town of Centreville.

A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of all offices, directorships, and salaried employment by the individual or member of the immediate family of the individual held at any time during the reporting period with entities doing business with the Town of Centreville; and for each position reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include: The name and address of the principal office of the business entity; The title and nature of the office, directorship, or salaried employment held and the date it commenced; and The name of each Town of Centreville agency with which the entity is involved. Indebtedness to entities doing business with the Town of Centreville. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of all liabilities, excluding retail credit accounts, to persons doing business with or regulated by the individual's Town of Centreville department owed at any time during the reporting period by the individual or by a member of the immediate family of the individual if the individual was involved in the transaction giving rise to the liability; and for each liability reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include: [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] The identity of the person to whom the liability was owed and the date the liability was incurred; The amount of the liability owed as of the end of the reporting period; The terms of payment of the liability and the extent to which the principal amount of the liability was increased or reduced during the year; and The security given, if any, for the liability. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of the immediate family members of the individual employed by the Town of Centreville in any capacity at any time during the reporting period.

Sources of earned income. A statement filed under this section shall include a schedule of the name and address of each place of employment and of each business entity of which the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family was a sole or partial owner and from which the individual or member of the individual's immediate family received earned income, at any time during the reporting period. A minor child's employment or business ownership need not be disclosed if the agency that employs the individual does not regulate, exercise authority over, or contract with the place of employment or business entity of the minor child. For a statement filed on or after January 1, 2019, if the individual's spouse is a lobbyist regulated by the Town of Centreville, the individual shall disclose the entity that has engaged the spouse for lobbying purposes. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] Relationship with University of Maryland Medical System, State or Local Government, or Quasi-Governmental Entity.

An individual shall disclose the information specified in General Provisions Article §5-607(j)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland, for any financial or contractual relationship with: [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] The University of Maryland Medical System; A governmental entity of the State or a local government in the State; or A quasi-governmental entity of the State or local government in the State. For each financial or contractual relationship reported pursuant to paragraph 10 above, the schedule shall include a description of the relationship, the subject matter of the relationship, and the consideration. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] A statement filed under this section may also include a schedule of additional interests or information that the individual making the statement wishes to disclose. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] For the purposes of Subsection H(1), (2) and (3) of this section, the following interests are considered to be the interests of the individual making the statement: An interest held by a member of the individual's immediate family, if the interest was, at any time during the reporting period, directly or indirectly controlled by the individual. An interest held by a business entity in which the individual held a ten-percent or greater interest at any time during the reporting period. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] A business entity described in (a) of this subsection in which the business entity held a twenty-five percent or greater interest; [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] A business entity described in (b) of this subsection in which the business entity held fifty-percent or greater interest; and [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] A business entity in which the individual directly or indirectly, through an interest in one or a combination of other business entities, holds a ten percent or greater interest. [Amended 12-24-2025 by Ord. No. 14-2025] An interest held by a trust or an estate in which, at any time during the reporting period, the individual held a reversionary interest or was a beneficiary or, if a revocable trust, the individual was a settlor. The Commission shall review the financial disclosure statements submitted under this section for compliance with the provisions of this section and shall notify an individual submitting the statement of any omissions or deficiencies.

In addition, the Commission may take appropriate enforcement action to ensure compliance with this section. HISTORY Amended by Ord. 14-2025 on 12/24/2025 54-7 Financial Disclosure: Employees And Members Of All Boards And Commissions This section only applies to the following appointed officials and employees: All members of the: Centreville Planning Commission, Centreville Board of Zoning Appeals, Centreville Ethics Commission, Centreville Board of Supervisors of Elections, Centreville Park Advisory Board, Centreville Economic Development Authority, and Centreville Personnel Review Board. The following employees: Town Manager, Chief of Police, Finance Officer, Director of Public Works, Human Resources Manager, Town Clerk, Zoning Administrator, Finance Specialist, Administrative Assistant, Operations Manager, Water/Wastewater Superintendent, Utility Worker, Program Manager, Main Street Manager, Code Enforcement Officer, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal, Office First Class, and Officer. A statement filed under this section shall be filed with the Commission under oath or affirmation. On or before April 30 of each year during which an official or employee holds office, an official or employee shall file a statement disclosing gifts received during the preceding calendar year from any person that contracts with or is regulated by the Town of Centreville, including the name of the donor of the gift and the approximate retail value at the time or receipt.

An official or employee shall disclose employment and interests that raise conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest in connection with a specific proposed action by the employee or official sufficiently in advance of the action to provide adequate disclosure to the public. An individual who is required to disclose the name of a business under this section shall disclose any other names that the business is trading as or doing business as. An individual shall disclose the information specified in the General Provisions Article §5-607(j)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland, for any financial or contractual relationship with the University of Maryland Medical System, State or Local Government, or Quasi-Governmental Entity. For each financial or contractual relationship reported, the schedule shall include a description of the relationship, the subject matter of the relationship, and the consideration.

The Commission shall maintain all disclosure statements filed under this section as public records available for public inspection and copying as provided in § 54-5 of this chapter. [Amended 9-20-2012 by Ord. No. 07-2012] HISTORY Amended by Ord. 14-2025 on 12/24/2025

54-8 Lobbying

A person shall file a lobbying registration statement with the Commission if the person personally appears before a Town of Centreville official or employee with the intent to influence that person in performance of the official duties of the official or employee and, in connection with the intent to influence, expends or reasonably expects to expend in a given calendar year in excess of $250 on food, entertainment or other gifts for officials or employees of the Town of Centreville. A person shall file the registration statement required under this section on or before the latter of January 15 of the calendar year or within five days after first performing an act that requires registration in the calendar year. The registration statement shall identify the registrant, any other person on whose behalf the registrant acts, and the subject matter on which the registrant proposes to make appearances specified in Subsection A of this section. The registration statement shall cover a defined registration period not to exceed one calendar year.

Within 30 days after the end of any calendar year during which a person was registered under this section, the person shall file a report with the Commission disclosing the value, date, and nature of any food, entertainment or other gift provided to a Town of Centreville official or employee. If a gift or series of gifts to a single official or employee exceeds $100 in value, the official or employee shall also be identified. The Commission shall maintain the registrations and reports filed under this section as public records available for public inspection and copying for four years after receipt by the Commission.

54-9 Exemptions And Modifications The

Commission may grant exemptions and modifications to the provisions of §§ 54-5 and 54-7 of this chapter as they relate to employees and to members of Town of Centreville boards and commissions when the Commission finds that an exemption or modification would not be contrary to the purposes of this chapter and the application of this chapter would constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy and significantly reduce the availability of qualified persons for public service.

54-10 Enforcement The

Commission may: Assess a fee of $5 per day up to a maximum of $500 for a failure to timely file a financial disclosure statement required under §§54-4 and 54-5 of this chapter; Assess a late fee of $10 per day up to a maximum of $1,000 for a failure to file a timely lobbyist registration or lobbyist report required under §54-6 of this chapter; and Issue a cease and desist order against any person found to be in violation of this chapter. Upon finding of a violation of any provision of this chapter, the Commission may: Issue an order of compliance directing the respondent to cease and desist from the violation; Issue a reprimand; or Recommend to the appropriate authority other appropriate discipline of the respondent, including censure or removal if that discipline is authorized by law. If the Commission finds that a respondent has violated §54-8 of this chapter, the Commission may: Require a respondent who is a registered lobbyist to file any additional reports or information that reasonably relates to the information that is required under §54-8 of this chapter; Impose a fine not exceeding $5,000 for each violation; and Suspend the registration of an individual registered lobbyist if the Commission finds that the lobbyist has knowingly and willfully violated §54-8 of this chapter or has been convicted of a criminal offense arising from lobbying activities. Upon request by the Commission, the Town of Centreville Attorney may file a petition for injunctive or other relieve in the Circuit Court of Queen Anne's County, or in any other court having proper venue for the purpose of requiring compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

The Court may: Issue an order to cease and desist from the violation; Except as provided in subparagraph 2 of this paragraph, void an official action taken by an official or employee with a conflict of interest prohibited by this chapter when the action arises from our concerns the subject matter of the conflict and if the legal action is brought within 90 days of the occurrence of the official action, if the court deems voiding the action to be in the best interest of the public; or Impose a fine up to $5,000 for any violation of the provisions of this chapter, with each day upon which the violation occurs constituting a separate offense. A court may not void any official action appropriating public funds, levying taxes, or providing for the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of public obligations. In addition to any other enforcement provisions in this chapter, a person who the Commission or a court finds has violated this chapter is subject to termination or other disciplinary action and may be suspended from receiving payment of salary or other compensation pending full compliance with the terms of an order of the Commission or a court. A Town of Centreville official or employee found to have violated this chapter is subject to disciplinary or other appropriate personnel action, including removal from office, disciplinary action, suspension of salary, or other sanction.

Violation of §54-8 of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor subject to a fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to one year. A finding of a violation of this chapter by the Commission is public information. HISTORY Amended by Ord. 14-2025 on 12/24/2025