There is a Chesapeake Beach Ethics Commission consisting of three members, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council.
[Amended 7-20-2023 by Ord. No. O-23-20]
The currently serving Commissioners were appointed in 2022 to terms expiring in April 2023, March 2025, and March 2027. For purposes of this § 25-5, the first mentioned term shall be deemed to end or have ended in March 2023. Upon the expiration of the terms of the current Commissioners, appointments shall be for three-year terms. At the expiration of a term a Commissioner shall continue to hold office until the Commissioner's successor is appointed and takes office.
Any member of the Ethics Commission can be removed by the Council for good cause, including, but not limited to, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance, after written notice and opportunity for hearing before the Town Council.
Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Vacancies shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term.
Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, a quorum shall consist of two members of the Commission, and motions shall be passed by majority vote.
The Commission shall:
A. 
Devise, receive, and maintain all forms required by this chapter.
B. 
Provide advisory opinions in appropriate cases.
C. 
Develop procedures and policies for the processing of complaints to make appropriate determinations regarding complaints filed by any person alleging violations of this chapter.
D. 
Conduct a public information program regarding the purposes and application of this chapter.
E. 
Submit a report on its activities at each meeting of the Town Council.
F. 
Consult with the State Ethics Commission and others regarding possible improvements in the Town's ethics program.
G. 
Certify to the State Ethics Commission on or before October 1 of each year that the Town is in compliance with the state Public Ethics Law or, if not in compliance, the status of efforts to bring it into compliance.
H. 
Consider whether changes should be made to this chapter and, if so, shall recommend those changes to the Town Council for consideration. The Council retains full discretion on acting on the Commission's recommendation.
I. 
Adopt other policies and procedures to assist in the implementation of the Commission's programs established in this chapter.
A. 
The Mayor shall assign independent legal counsel to advise and represent the Commission.
B. 
Effective January 1, 2021, an attorney or law firm is not independent if, currently or within the previous calendar year, he, she, or it has represented or advised, other than the Ethics Commission;
(1) 
Anyone covered by this chapter;
(2) 
The Mayor or Town Council as an institution; or
(3) 
Any entity that did, or proposed to do, business with the Town.
The Commission may request the Town to provide a private investigator when needed to discover facts relevant to an allegation of violation of this chapter.
A. 
The Town Clerk or other Town official designated by the Mayor shall maintain, and make available for public review electronically:
(1) 
Public disclosures made to it;
[Amended 7-20-2023 by Ord. No. O-23-20]
(2) 
Statements of recusal or exception; and
(3) 
With redactions to protect invasions of privacy, advisory opinions it issues.
B. 
Public disclosure statements must be retained for at least four years from the date of receipt.
[Amended 7-20-2023 by Ord. No. O-23-20]